Tea ladies would demand higher pay

Editor - I must comment on the cartoon underneath Basu's article on the beneficial effects of tea.¹ The caption suggesting that tea ladies are suddenly "demanding the same pay as doctors" would be quite amusing if it wasn't for the fact that, if they were working after 5 00 pm, they would almost certainly be being paid more. I do not know many tea ladies who would work a night shift for £4.03 an hour (the current rate for class three additional duty hours for preregistration house officers - for those not conversant with the New Deal). With regard to Furness 's letter on final year entitlement to the full student loan² - I love you, will you marry me?

Andrew Thornley, final year medical student, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle NE1 4LP


studentBMJ 1999;07:394-436 November ISSN 0966-6494

1. Basu C. Does a cup of tea really do you theworld of good? studentBMJ 1999;7:324. (October.)
2. Furness S. Final year medical students may be entitled to full year student loan. studentBMJ 1999;7:342. (October.)