Humiliating moment BMA doctor ‘HANGS UP’ on radio as he can’t respond to furious teacher | UK | News
An angry teacher branded striking junior doctors “incredibly greedy” and said they should “hang their heads down in shame” in an audio message broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live; This left a senior BMA official apparently speechless and the line abruptly disconnected. The angry message came from Dr. It was published during an interview with Thomas Cheliotis-James on Wednesday, as the latest five-day strike began amid an unprecedented flu crisis.
The teacher said: “The difference between incredibly greedy doctors and teachers who have an equally valid complaint is that when we are given a reasonable wage of 5% one year and 4% the next we decide that is all the country can afford. It is outrageous when doctors decide they want another 30% pay rise, no one supports them and although strikes are effective for patients, many of my friends and I are personally happy they lose five days’ pay every time they strike. They do not deserve another pay rise and go back to work.” They must return.
“I will honestly start firing them and replacing them with people who want to work. This is absolutely outrageous and the BMA and any junior doctors who come on your show to justify this crazy strike should hang their heads in shame, resign and get a job in the real world.”
Host Rick Edwards played the clip and Dr. He asked Cheliotis-James for his response and said: “There’s a teacher there, quite angry at the strike action and especially what you’re asking for pay, Thomas.”
After a few seconds of silence, Mr Edwards added: “Oh, it was like we had lost Thomas. What a shame, otherwise he has nothing to say in response… I don’t know if we will try to get him back. We will try, but I think with very little faith.”
Early in the interview, Dr. Cheliotis-James said talks with the Labor Government continued until Tuesday night, but “unfortunately, not enough progress was made”.
He added: “Following this industrial action, we hope to make progress on all areas of this dispute, including wages.”
The embarrassing broadcast moment came as thousands of junior doctors embarked on their 14th strike since 2023, canceling appointments and operations at the worst possible time for the NHS.
Hospitals are struggling with record flu admissions caused by a dominant H3N2 strain, and there are warnings of a potential surge in influenza B, which is then affecting children. NHS leaders say disruption from the strike, which is estimated to cost £250 million, will be felt in January and February.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting apologized to patients and insisted the government had done “everything in our power” to block action, including 11th-hour talks. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the strike as “dangerous and completely irresponsible” and called on doctors to “Don’t abandon patients”.
