What's happening to my future?

I feel sad, incredibly sad. Everytime I think about the junior contract changes, or see any evocative writing in social media by doctors, I can feel tears fill my eyes. Sounds dramatic, I know, but please let me explain to you why I feel this way.  

Working to become a doctor doesn't only start at university. It starts in early teens. First, we have to get good GCSE grades because medical school admissions take GCSE grades into account. GCSEs starts from 13/14 years old.  Then, we have two years of A-levels. During which we have to get straight A/A*'s, because of the competition for med school entry. Outside studying, we do extracurriculars, part-time job, sports, music, work experience, volunteering, to make us a desirable candidate for medical school (and of course we enjoy them too). If we are one of fortunate ones who got a place in a medical school, then we can start the 6 year university course of medicine. So far, that is already 10 years of dedication. 

After we graduate, we work even harder in the hospitals. Early mornings, late nights and weekends. Missed family events, weddings and hardly any holidays. When we aren't working, we have to study for more exams for our career progression, some also do research work at the side. All of this is tough, and we get stressed and depressed, but we get through it all. We probably all secretly have a relish for it. All of this is worth it. To see someone sick and frail become healthy and strong again because of what you did is an amazing feeling. To have that person's family thank you for your hard work, and see their happiness is fantastic. 

But now... Is it all going to be worth it?

The new contracts mean massive pay cuts, but money is not why I am so upset. Being a doctor requires a unique set of skills and specialised knowledge. Why is that not being acknowledged and appreciated by the people? Why doesn't being a doctor get more respect? Why is the government trying to destroy the best healthcare system in the world? Why am I getting bullied to accept an appalling unfair contract?

I feel that my future as a doctor in the NHS is bleak. 

What can I do about it? At the moment there seems to be three options:

1. Just accept it.

2. Move abroad.

3. Industrialised action. 

On September 15th, the government announced it will impose a new contract on junior doctors working in England from 2016. It seems like civilised negotiations are off the table. So really, it looks to be there are only those three options if I want to be a doctor. 

Option 1: That is not acceptable. The next general election is in 5 years. If we accept this contract, who is to say the Tories won't deduce our pay more and more each year. If you give them an inch, they take a mile. 

Option 2: Maybe this is the cowardly option, but I am leaning towards it. I know many of my friends are too. We want to work in a country where we are being valued. Not necessarily financially, but a little human respect would be nice. However, if we all go, who is to say the NHS won't be privatised completely in 5 years? That is dangerous. That is what worries me the most.

Option 3: Strike? I don't know how doctors can strike. It goes against everything I believe in. We cannot leave sick people in hospitals. I don't know how an industrialised action can be organised without harming hospital performances and safety. However, it seems like that is the only way to get the rest of the country noticed. We will seem like greedy, selfish villains, that's for sure. The media have never done us any favours. 

Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. 

I don't know very much about politics. Heck, I don't even know enough medicine yet! I am just a fifth year medical student. But I know I have worked very hard for the last 8 years to get into medical school, and to study medicine, in order to become a doctor in the NHS. Now though... 

What is happening to the future that I have worked and hoped for? Again, tears fill my eyes.