I agree with much of what Scotch lad has written in his last post.It is wrong to place any profession as superior to others.
I am a nurse.I could'nt fight fires, fight crime, or fight foreign wars. I do what I do, as do people in all walks of employment which are essential at keeping a civilised society's cogs turning.
Like any Health workers we are always appreciative of public support and praise, similarly negative criticism of my profession upsets me. As well as being a Nurse I am a husband, father of two young children, a mortgage payer, a voter and a taxpayer (and a caravanner!!).
Sad and corny as it may sound, I love my job and I am proud of my profession.I am also proud of the National health service, my employer. I enjoy nursing and find caring for people rewarding but when all is said and done, like the rest of the working population I need to feed my family and keep a roof over their heads.I knew when I went into nursing I would probably never be rich, but that I would have relative job security during my working life and provision for my retirement. I also feel that I am reasonably financially reimbursed for the work that I do.
Scotch Lad is correct, society is in a mess, and undoubtedly there will be pain for all of us before it is over, I do object to my profession, the medical profession and health care workers in general being used as a political football, by all parties eager to score potential votes.
At present, doctors exempt,Agenda for change, the Pay structure for the NHS,is committed to a three year pay deal. We are midway through second year. This deal was agreed, when the going was good for the economy, and was'nt anything particularly "flash" then, it certainly was'nt "inflation busting". Political parties are now talking about changes twelve or more months in advance when who knows what will happen to the economy! I am sure that we will react accordingly depending on what our political masters of the time demand of us-we usually do!
Anyone that fancies a job in the NHS as some kind of "wonderland" employer- go for it. NHS jobs this morning has 8117 vacancies-dont be sucked in by the Daily Mail's version of jobs, nurses earning