Regarding doctors political values/ ways to volunteer
I have only been a doctor for a short period of time, yet i have seen the swathe of inequality that wrecks this country.
I have seen patients who are unable to pay for a transport (taxi/bus) to get home after being seen.
I have seen elderly people with grade four pressure sores, lying in their own excrement, waiting to be seen by a doctor. When probed about why they are in this state, they say they cannot afford carers.
I have seen people who due to poverty are developing conditions secondary to mould exposure, sugar intake , alcohol.
i went to medical school in a more affluent area, and am currently doing foundation years in a more deprived area, even the difference in healthcare is shocking to see. In my medical school hospital, people were seen quicker, more time was spent on them, their was more rooms to be examined, more staffing, whereas now people are struggling to be seen, their is understaffing of healthcare staff (HCAs, porters, doctors, nurses etc) . It’s just genuinely sad to see.
They’re a small minority of the world that hold a huge amount of wealth ( billionaires) / hand downs from family , yet the average person is living pay check to pay check.
Essentially this is more of a friendly debate. This pains me, i don’t want to see others suffering this way.
Are their doctors who hold anti socialistic views, and if so , why? i want to hear your opinions :).
in addition, what can we do as doctors to help these people more than we already are. Is their voluntary clinics? and what grade do you have to be to volunteer ( i’m in my foundation years)
Ps. If anyone has these sort of feelings, how do you advise i can cope with it better?