SURELY THIS ISN'T FAIR?

Docs getting little as £14 an hour for op. Most people back walk-outs by medics

- MARTIN BAGOT

THE Tories have been accused of providing high-quality health care on the cheap with doctors whose real-term pay has been slashed by years of cuts.

As one of the biggest strikes by medics starts today, with warnings of cancelled appointments and operations, a campaign is launched showing junior staff are on as little as £14 an hour for saving lives.

And while stubborn Health Secretary Steve Barclay refuses to discuss pay with doctors until they drop their plea for a 35% rise, a pol shows most of the public support the four-day walk-out.

The British Medical Association insists their demand is merely "pay restoration after the Tories have driven down their real-term wages by a quarter since taking power.

Its poster campaign shows three doctors carrying out an hour-long appendix operation. One has 10 years' experience and earns £28 ir that hour, another has seven years and gets £24.46 while the third has a year's service and earns £14.09.