Doctor Behind Junior Doctor Strike Has Secret Side Hustles

Doctor U Bhalraam, a cardiologist and deputy co-chairman of the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee, is campaigning for pay rises and strike action for junior doctors. Despite his public stance, it has been revealed that Dr. Bhalraam has a sideline running two start-up companies. He is the sole director and owner of Datamed Solutions Ltd, a data processing company, and UBR Property Holdings Limited, a letting company. These companies are registered at Dr. Bhalraam's £330,000 home in Norwich, where he works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. U Bhalraam, a cardiologist and deputy co-chairman of the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee, has set up two companies: Datamed Solutions Ltd and UBR Property Holdings Limited.
• Datamed Solutions Ltd is a data processing company, and UBR Property Holdings Limited is a letting company, both of which are registered at Dr. Bhalraam's £330,000 home in Norwich.
• Dr. Bhalraam is advocating for a 23% pay rise for junior doctors, who he claims are paid 23% less in real terms than in 2008.
• Despite this, resident doctors have received an almost 30% pay rise over the past three years.
• Dr. Bhalraam's work at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust may be compromised by his business interests.
• The British Medical Association's resident doctors committee is urging members to strike, with 11 industrial actions taken since 2022, cancelling approximately 1.5 million appointments.
• A YouGov poll of 4,100 adults found that almost half of respondents opposed the strikes.

Statistics:

• Junior doctors are paid 23% less in real terms than in 2008 (BMA).
• Resident doctors received an almost 30% pay rise over the past three years (BMA).
• There have been 11 industrial actions by junior doctors since 2022, resulting in approximately 1.5 million appointments being cancelled.
• Almost half of respondents (49%) in a YouGov poll of 4,100 adults opposed the strikes (YouGov).

Sources:

• BMA (British Medical Association)
• YouGov