Wong has support of retired physician

BMJ 1995;311:1299 (11 November)

Letters

Wong has support of retired physician

EDITOR,--I congratulate Christopher Wong for his letter opposingfurther statutory reductions in hours.¹ I should like to remindthe current whingers that in the early 1950s the BMA's officialview was that, when possible, the hours worked by house officersshould be less than 168 hours a week, or words to that effect.The salary was £250 a year, with £100 being deductedfor full board and lodging.

Times have certainly changed for the better for junior doctors,and I applaud this. But juniors should remember that if theywant to be good at something then they have to work at it, andthis should include the experience of working unsocial hours.

Retired pharmaceutical physician Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL6 9NF

I Lenox-Smith