Update from November Council meeting

Published: 09/11/2023

Following the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 17 October, we said that our next steps would be for Council and Board of Trustees to consider how best to implement the resolutions carried.

Council met yesterday for the first time since the EGM and we would like to update members on the work undertaken and some of our discussions so far. I appreciate this update is not a detailed one and we will have more information to share once proposals have been finalised and approved by Council and Board of Trustees.

Immediately following the EGM we established three internal working groups to scope the necessary work and to develop proposals for Council. We have also had initial conversations with some external stakeholders to inform our thinking.

At yesterday’s meeting, Council considered initial proposals for implementation, including:

  • Formation of new working groups with the inclusion of internal and external stakeholders for the three areas of work.
  • Consultation with key organisations including the GMC, NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (NHSE WTE), the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) and the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection Committee (MDRS).
  • Inclusion of this work within existing workstreams where possible, for example in relation to rotational training and in taking resolution three to our ethics committee.

We will now refine our proposals and discuss with the Board of Trustees in December.

Member engagement has been an essential and valuable part of this process and I thank everyone who has contributed so far. We will keep you updated on our progress.

I know that many members, regardless of their opinions on the topics raised at the EGM, share Council’s view that some of the language and behaviours that have emerged on social media and elsewhere are unacceptable. The impact on individuals’ wellbeing has been significant and harmful. While I appreciate that this debate is wider reaching than our membership, I ask that we all play our part by behaving in a professional manner and facilitating good working relationships between all members of our teams.

Dr Fiona Donald
President