Tempers flared on GB News today as doctors clashed live over the ongoing NHS strikes and severe staff shortages.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee described the situation as "disastrous", warning that hospitals continue to face massive delays while patients avoid A&E due to long waiting times.
She criticised the loss of British-trained doctors overseas, saying the NHS risks being left with only "leftover doctors".
This comment left Dr Renee Honderkamp livid, as she questioned why she was being referred to as "the dregs".
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee described the situation as 'disastrous'
|GB NEWS
Dr Mukherjee said: "The NHS loses money every time it loses doctors that it has trained, and we have to acknowledge that the standard to which British doctors are trained is world-class.
"Our doctors are wanted all over the world, in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, and the Middle East, where they absolutely recruit the best doctors trained in this country.
"That’s one of the greatest strengths of the UK, our university medical education.
"Unfortunately, we are losing these high-quality doctors, and sadly, the ones left behind are often those who are desperate and have nowhere else to go.
"So, do we really want a system left with only leftover doctors? That’s the sad truth."
Dr Renee Hoenderkamp fumed in response: “I have to step in here. I’m a GP myself, and I agree with much of what you’ve just said.
Doctors have been striking for many years
| PA"However, to suggest that I am just ‘the dregs’ because I’m not going to Australia is ridiculous — let’s be clear on that.
“But what is important, and you will understand this as a GP, is the impact on patients. During a six-day London strike, 373,000 outpatient and elective appointments were cancelled.
"Last time, 140,000 people were added to the waiting lists. That’s equivalent to one to two per cent of London’s elective lists, and there were five deaths during the strike
"Now, while I agree that we need to create more training places, we also need to improve conditions for doctors in hospitals. The current conditions are appalling.
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"Striking, which increases waiting lists and puts lives at risk, is not the way to address the problem."
Dr Mukherjee hit back: "And why aren’t we talking about the excess deaths happening on non-strike days?
"The system itself is such that new doctors entering the workforce are facing worse conditions than ever.
"Part of this problem goes back to 2008, the way resident doctors were treated then is very different from how they are treated now, with pay and conditions having regressed over the years.”