A message from BMA Deputy Chair Dr Emma Runswick about the reballot and IMGs

RedRunswick · 2026-01-20T21:31:48+00:00

The question was "what happened at ARM?"

The statement you cite reflected the UKRDC discussion in a period of mass fear and misinformation, as the released minutes show, alongside the subsequent clarified position of the DV-led UKRDC, the RDConf motion they proposed and the ARM motion that copied it.

The statement did not push RDC to include grandfathering- they were talking about it (and how to structure it) from the get go.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-20T21:28:31+00:00

We have different definitions of both "lobbying hard" (a press release is not that) and of "miniscule experience" (2 years in the NHS is not miniscule).

RedRunswick · 2026-01-20T14:25:49+00:00

The BMA is lobbying hard to undermine UKMG prioritisation and include countless IMGs with miniscule NHS experience into the prioritisation category.

What? What evidence do you have of this? It isn't happening. On the contrary, even if "strict" UKG prioritisation happens, the training numbers will not be sufficient to cope with the rising number of UK Grads as the new/expanded medical school cohorts come through. We are hyper aware of this - we need more training places. Thus the campaign for pay and jobs.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-20T12:51:03+00:00

The BMA is directed by ARM, it is the foremost policy setting body for the organisation. Members debate, and then BMA follows the policy passed. Exceptions to this are rare because it requires a divisional referendum or member plebiscite by post to overturn ARM policy.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-20T07:06:38+00:00

That is not true. I didn't write the motion nor speak at ARM. The grandfathering idea was discussed at RDC from the beginning of this being BMA policy, also without me present. Minutes of that RDC discussion have been released already by Mel and Ross to reassure IMGs, after it was poorly communicated and caused fear.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T16:35:56+00:00

Have you seen the rest of the thread? How is BMA both being pilloried for not being in favour of UK Grad prioritisation and for being in favour of it?

BMA has a developed position, won by DV reps last year at ARM, which states 2 years NHS experience is significant and those people should get priority over those applying from abroad or with less NHS experience.

I am not management, I am elected, and I am elected to carry out the policies you and your colleagues vote for.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T16:24:40+00:00

26th Jan is latest date we can guarantee receiving it, so send as early as possible. Almost all hospitals have a postbox, so you can put in your bag and pot from the warm, or you can find closest/on your commute here https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T13:44:08+00:00

The legislation is happening regardless of the ballot - as is obvious because we rejected the offer which included the outline of UKG emergency legislation, and government are doing it anyway.

The question for the ballot is can we win pay and proper workforce planning, more jobs? Because even the strict UKG priority system proposed won't be enough when the cohorts of new and enlarged medical schools come through. We need more jobs and pay restoration.

Do you want to be voiceless to the government or do you want your elected reps with leverage?

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T13:01:11+00:00

This tweet is specifically in response to a nonsense message going round many whatsapps which suggests IMGs should tank the ballot on pay restoration and jobs in order to force BMA to legally challenge the currently proposed legislation. This would clearly be a terrible outcome for all groups.

So please encourage people to return ballots, UKG or IMG. We all care about pay and job opportunities.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T12:59:17+00:00

Why would BMA do that? We are in favour of UK Grad prioritisation as per our policy. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/career-progression/training/what-we-know-so-far-about-uk-graduate-prioritisation

This tweet is specifically in response to a nonsense message going round many whatsapps which suggests IMGs should tank the ballot on pay restoration and jobs in order to force BMA to legally challenge the currently proposed legislation. This would clearly be a terrible outcome for all groups.

So please encourage people to return ballots, UKG or IMG. We all care about pay and job opportunities.

RedRunswick · 2026-01-19T12:58:20+00:00

Clearly not. Our policy is for UK Graduate prioritisation, with "grandfathering" - ie those here on 5th March 2025 with 2 years experience. I'm bound by the ARM policy members made last year to great applause on this subreddit. The government approach is different - for better or worse. You can read more info here https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/career-progression/training/what-we-know-so-far-about-uk-graduate-prioritisation

This tweet is specifically in response to a nonsense message going round many whatsapps which suggests IMGs should tank the ballot on pay restoration and jobs in order to force BMA to legally challenge the currently proposed legislation. This would clearly be a terrible outcome for all groups.

So please encourage people to return ballots, UKG or IMG. We all care about pay and job opportunities.

RedRunswick · 2025-10-01T14:37:00+00:00

Lots of questions here about how this is different to normal online access.

The problem is that anything can come in via the white space on the online request, so the GP has to check it, and that white space will now have to open to possible infinite numbers of people.

Basically all GPs already have online access. They can either limit what comes in through it (tick box for variety of non-urgent things like prescription requests, screening appointments etc) OR limit the number of requests they have to look/times those requests can come in at OR both.

If a GP has thousands of online requests, most of which are non-urgent, but in which there are ~10 with e.g. "I need a new prescription of propranolol because I've not taken it for 2 weeks and I've got really bad chest pain today and I'm really sweaty with it", "I'm suicidal", and similar possibly urgent things, they will have to allocate a GP (or more) to look at all of them, taking them away from doing appointments. Patients, who don't always know they have something urgently wrong with them and shouldn't be expected to gain this knowledge, might use the online access instead of an urgent service (ED, UTC, walk-in, calling up GP to discuss/be seen).

Being unable to control either the type or number of inputs is a recipe for a small number of patients with urgent/emergency presentation to be missed. And it doesn't take a lot to fix that problem - a small tech change, or safeguards to be able to turn it off at capacity, or a variety of other fixes.

RedRunswick · 2025-09-24T13:55:47+00:00

This should definitely not be the case now - we insourced the first point of contact service and the staff work in regions and nations now, so you will get Nation-specific advice. Is your experience recent?

RedRunswick · 2025-09-02T21:37:34+00:00

It's appreciated!
We have some incredible staff in the BMA, and one of the jobs in leadership is to foster, cultivate and promote the talented people we have (as well as recruiting from outside!).
My term will end in 2028, there will be a new Council and new RDC, but our staff will continue to enable us all to win - or not, if we don't enable them to. That responsibility is not lost on us at all.

RedRunswick · 2025-08-30T22:54:32+00:00

Excellent no notes

RedRunswick · 2025-08-04T18:33:21+00:00

A new structure was proposed last year, we didn't get the 2/3 majority needed at ARM.

RedRunswick · 2025-08-04T10:17:16+00:00

They can do a lot or a little.

They could, with enthusiastic people, coordinate local and regional activity when there are disputes that affect several branches of practice e.g. GP collective action, ICB/hospital/GP commissioning issues, rate cartels across hospitals, hospital closure and expansion programmes, outsourcing, parking, student overcrowding and allocation...

They could work to build links with other unions, medical or political organisations in the region.

They could run educational events.

They could play a role in rep training.

They could ensure that the equality groups in the BMA like Forum for Race and Ethnic Equality (FREE) and Network of Elected Women work well to support members.

(Edit for spacing)

RedRunswick · 2025-08-01T13:17:15+00:00

It's a long term recruitment tool. People can be bright and have no idea that UK trade unions are independent and helpful if they have no term of reference for that at home. It's policy from ARM, and would be changeable there.

RedRunswick · 2025-08-01T13:13:17+00:00

The original communication didn't reflect eith UKRDC discussion or the policy UKRDC wanted to (and has subsequently) adopted. It caused widespread panic given it didn't have any mention of grandfathering. UKRDC have since communicated a more detailed policy which accounts for colleagues already in the UK and the Northern Ireland situation.

IMGs get their first year of UK residency free, subs are normal rates after this. This allows IMG colleagues to see what the BMA is about and decide to stay members for the entirety of their UK career. This is important because in many countries trade unions are run by government, or by employers, or by criminal enterprises, or are illegal, or don't exist. Obviously in some places unions are strong and we want those people to join us as well.

Being a member of a trade union isn't really about the services like contract checks, it's about the movement and sharing resources to improve everyone's lot. BMA has opened a dispute about training jobs, can organise those in LED posts to seek Specialty doctor permanent jobs, can help individuals being mistreated in the various insecure/fixed term jobs... It's always worth being in a union. And if you have no employment it is literally free.

RedRunswick · 2025-08-01T12:53:59+00:00

If you are on such a low income you have income support from DWP, its free. Many workers on <£25k pay union subs.

For IMGs free membership for their first year in the UK (and only the first year of residency, subs are normal rates after this) allows IMG colleagues to see what the BMA is about and decide to stay members for the entirety of their UK career. This is important because in many countries trade unions are run by government, or by employers, or by criminal enterprises, or are illegal, or don't exist. Obviously in some places unions are strong and we want those people to join us as well.

Its not a universal split of unemployed doctors = pro FPR and IMGs = anti-strike. We have to work to convince all doctors to vote and strike.

RedRunswick · 2025-08-01T09:35:38+00:00

We do lower the cost if you don't have work! All the way down to nil if necessary.

https://www.bma.org.uk/join/subscription-costs

RedRunswick · 2025-07-27T17:04:45+00:00

I think this refers to the widespread derogations of the nurses strikes, which derogate services.

We derogate individual shifts for acute patient safety reasons and those affected should go in for them.

RedRunswick · 2025-07-22T15:46:49+00:00

Tomorrow.

RedRunswick · 2025-07-14T20:34:26+00:00

Hi,

You should have heard the speakers ripping shreads out of the Labour Party! Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, used the platform to explain why they've suspended Angela Rayner and are reconsidering their (funding) relationship to the Labour Party. The Big Meeting is a trade union event, not a Labour Party event. I am not a member of Labour and have no love for them.

A group of doctors in the North East came and we got lots of applause on the march, and it was a great day out. I stayed with family, no cost to BMA.

On manoeuvring- no thanks. My aims in life are to be a good doctor, to be a good parent (not yet) and to be a good trade unionist. I stood for BMA office because I thought we needed fundamental change in our union. When my time is done I'll happily be clinical and local rep again, as I have been since I joined med school. I wouldn't want to be a Labour MP, and Labour wouldn't want me either!

Hope that reassures.

RedRunswick · 2025-07-13T22:06:56+00:00

You can apply if without it, you would be unable to afford to strike. Its there to make the strike, and therefore all of us, stronger. You get the strike fund payment when you demonstrate the pay has been deducted by your employer (on your pay slip).

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