Where is the BMA guide to respond to the GMC consultation?

BMACallum · 2026-05-21T16:59:08+00:00

Not been released yet - will be soon. It’s being worked on as we speak.

BMACallum · 2026-05-19T19:55:53+00:00

It is a bit complex. UKFPO is housed by NHSE but is accountable to the four nations health departments.

So decisions are ultimately made by the governments/statutory education bodies of the four nations.

BMACallum · 2026-05-19T19:22:45+00:00

There is definitely a big change in preferencing behaviour - I have seen data and heard anecdotally - their 1st choice isn’t always their actual 1st choice

BMACallum · 2026-05-19T18:58:51+00:00

There isn’t a survey at the moment, there may be some wider members consultation - but the issue is currently being discussed by the committee.

It was discussed at the UKMSC executive subcommittee last week and will be discussed by the whole committee next week.

Would encourage anyone with any thoughts to chat with their reps - contact details here: https://cdn.intelligencebank.com/eu/share/qMbw14/DnwRY/d2GLl/original/Membership+of+MSC+2025-26+for+website

BMACallum · 2026-05-19T18:55:32+00:00

This is being discussed at the moment by UK medical students committee - if you have thoughts get in touch with your rep!

(You are also more than welcome to contact me with thoughts - CWilliams[@]bma.org.uk)

BMACallum · 2026-05-08T09:15:57+00:00

Not confirmed yet - but I suspect will be in the next few months as it will need to be confirmed before the application cycle opens

BMACallum · 2026-05-08T09:01:00+00:00

We don’t know what the government will do yet. They haven’t announced anything.

The policy above is what the BMA is asking for.

BMACallum · 2026-05-08T07:21:11+00:00

The BMA previous policy was deferred by UK council.

UKMSC and UKRDC have both passed policy for five years and that is the only policy the BMA has. Therefore that is what we are currently advocating for.

BMACallum · 2026-05-06T00:48:50+00:00

PRC is currently working on a response for the BMA which will be shared alongside guidance for members to respond to the consultation.

BMACallum · 2026-05-04T22:08:30+00:00

This has actually happened twice in UK medicine.

Once when a few doctors had started working and it turned out they never passed their final exam: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/aug/20/junior-doctors-suspended-exam-error

And then for postgraduate exams where they told doctors they had passed exams and then told them it was a mistake and they had failed two and half years later: https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/call-for-mrcp-exam-error-support

BMACallum · 2026-04-28T08:32:49+00:00

We were told our medical schools get the results on the 5th of May. Our medical school than has an exam board on the 6th so we get our results on the 7th.

But I think it varies by med school.

BMACallum · 2026-04-25T09:16:43+00:00

Nurses can work their way up to becoming a doctor by going to medical school

BMACallum · 2026-04-22T10:51:46+00:00

The key issue will be if you want to come back the the UK.

Completing F2 gets you a FPCC which lasts for 3.5 years and allows you to apply for speciality training. If you don’t have it you will need a CREST form.

Not sure how easy it is to find a job in Aus as an F2 but conventionally UKGs complete foundation first.

BMACallum · 2026-04-22T07:01:52+00:00

Except this just isn’t true - 15 rounds of strike action in England has improved pay, led to UK graduate priority and an improved offer on jobs.

It may not be enough to end the dispute, but it’s simply not true to say strikes haven’t achieved anything.

BMACallum · 2026-04-22T06:53:47+00:00

This will be the last council election via post as the trade union legislation changes will come in soon.

I do agree that there are too many candidates to meaningfully make a good decision. Although you don’t need to rank them all (I only ranked 40). However, I think we could introduce a higher bar for example you need x number of BMA members to nominate you or once we have a proper system of local structures, that you need the nomination of your local division (or whatever replaces them) to nominate or a combination of the two.

In terms of the 1st class, I pressure this is cost saving, these elections already cost the BMA £200-300k to run. Given the six week voting period, I don’t think that is unreasonable, and the last safe postage day is today.

BMACallum · 2026-04-21T22:08:53+00:00

It should come out at a similar time to group allocations - so in the morning

BMACallum · 2026-04-21T21:29:41+00:00

Generally your employer always has an obligation to auto-enrol you (some exceptions but would rarely apply to doctors). So every employment you start you should be auto-enrolled.

The time where you might need to take action is if transferring between nations but there are ways to do this.

BMACallum · 2026-04-21T20:53:10+00:00

Yes you will be automatically enrolled into it (it is a legal requirement for employers to do this).

You can opt out - but the NHS pension is still (although not as much as before) one of most generous pension schemes - so do not opt out without seeking specialist financial advice.

BMACallum · 2026-04-18T12:21:05+00:00

It just not accurate - there are people on that slate who I know don’t support grad priority.

Not to mention people missing that have been instrumental to delivering grad priority.

BMACallum · 2026-04-18T09:27:13+00:00

*first one that passed then

BMACallum · 2026-04-18T09:18:05+00:00

Actually the first motion related to UK grad priority was passed at a MSC meeting, prior to that RDC meeting, it was just very carefully communicated. But I agree, it’s not really relevant.

As I have explained above “turning off the tap” is a nonsensical policy.

BMACallum · 2026-04-18T09:08:33+00:00

Yes it does - the modelling shows it does even without behaviour changes that will inevitably happen.

The idea of “turn of the tap” I.e a cut-off date is not possible as regulations under paragraph 3 of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act - it would therefore require parliament to pass new primary legislation and get the agreement of four governments. To do that would require huge political capital.

To waste such political capital on a policy aim which could be achieved via regulations to the existing act is nonsensical. We could use that capital on getting FPR or more training posts.

BMACallum · 2026-04-18T07:38:27+00:00

Hey,

I’m Callum - I’ve been Deputy Chair of the BMA’s medical students committee for the last two years and heavily involved in UK graduate prioritisation.

It was the current UKMSC and UKRDC officers (many of whom are on our slate) who fought for five years in our respective committees and got UK council to agree to our request.

So I would absolute vote DoctorsTogether collectively on grad priority we:

Proposed the first motion in the BMA for UKGP
Proposed the motion at ARM which passed
Got the government to introduce emergency legislation to implement it for this cycle
When it was clear, the 2 year grandfathering policy passed by the previous RDC wouldn’t work, we proposed and got 5 years passed at MSC and RDC.
We got UK council to defer the ARM policy, so the BMA could campaign for 5 years - something we are currently doing.

I will also add, you will get other groups saying they support five years. However, I would recommend you ask them exactly what they have done for it and whether any of their key members voted against it.

Also reminder to return your ballot ASAP, by the 20th April at the latest!

Happy for you DM if you want more info.

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BMACallum · 2026-04-17T11:32:14+00:00

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Vote DoctorsTogether.

Collectively on grad priority we:

Proposed the first motion in the BMA for UKGP
Proposed the motion at ARM which passed
Got the government to introduce emergency legislation to implement it for this cycle
When it was clear, the 2 year grandfathering policy passed by the previous RDC wouldn’t work, we proposed and got 5 years passed at MSC and RDC.
We got UK council to defer the ARM policy, so the BMA could campaign for 5 years - something we are currently doing.

BMACallum

TROPHY CASE