Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
@tomdolphin.bsky.social
Chair of UK Council @bma.org.uk
Anaesthetic consultant
Fresh here from the bird app where I am thomasdolphin
Anaesthetic consultant
Fresh here from the bird app where I am thomasdolphin
Substitution of expertise with enthusiasm doesn’t work when so much of what our NHS clinical staff do is based on years of training, exams and experience. @bma.org.uk agrees with @rcn.org.uk that we shouldn’t be replacing expert clinicians the way the NHS is currently rushing to do.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: English hospitals that cut registered nurses saw more deaths while those hiring nurses saw more patients survive. Even when hospitals tried to fill gaps with non-nurses, deaths still went up. Major new study exposes dangerous NHS variation:
www.thetimes.com/article/7eed...
www.thetimes.com/article/7eed...
Death rates rise when NHS cuts back on nursing
Using lower-paid workers to plug the gaps left by a failure to hire registered nurses damages safety, new research has shown
www.thetimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Substitution of expertise with enthusiasm doesn’t work when so much of what our NHS clinical staff do is based on years of training, exams and experience. @bma.org.uk agrees with @rcn.org.uk that we shouldn’t be replacing expert clinicians the way the NHS is currently rushing to do.
Well done @bmacymru.bsky.social on the new resident doctors' contract! Meanwhile in England residents fight on in their campaign and at the same time @bma.org.uk continues work on all the other issues our members care about. This is what an active, member-led union with amazing staff looks like!
December 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Well done @bmacymru.bsky.social on the new resident doctors' contract! Meanwhile in England residents fight on in their campaign and at the same time @bma.org.uk continues work on all the other issues our members care about. This is what an active, member-led union with amazing staff looks like!
Heading Londonwards from visiting QMC in Nottingham to talk to obstetric doctors there (and management) about strikes and derogations. Clearly a department facing huge challenges, with doctors run ragged to make up for deep-rooted problems. Thank you for the frank discussions. @mbdoc.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Heading Londonwards from visiting QMC in Nottingham to talk to obstetric doctors there (and management) about strikes and derogations. Clearly a department facing huge challenges, with doctors run ragged to make up for deep-rooted problems. Thank you for the frank discussions. @mbdoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
Dismal framing. Every aspect of most asylum seekers’ lives is controlled & paid for by the Home Office. They can’t work, are told where to live & have no autonomy or dignity. So they aren’t *choosing* to use taxis & don’t need to be “banned” from doing so. The HO just needs to get its act in order.
Government to ban asylum seekers from using taxis
The ban is set to come in February and any exemptions will have to be signed off by the Home Office.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Dismal framing. Every aspect of most asylum seekers’ lives is controlled & paid for by the Home Office. They can’t work, are told where to live & have no autonomy or dignity. So they aren’t *choosing* to use taxis & don’t need to be “banned” from doing so. The HO just needs to get its act in order.
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
Back here for the second time in a week to talk to an MP about the residents’ dispute and doctor substitution by non-doctors on rotas. Bumped into the Consultants Ctte co-chair in Parliament’s reception on her way in to meet another MP - literally a revolving door of @bma.org.uk -MP meetings today!
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Back here for the second time in a week to talk to an MP about the residents’ dispute and doctor substitution by non-doctors on rotas. Bumped into the Consultants Ctte co-chair in Parliament’s reception on her way in to meet another MP - literally a revolving door of @bma.org.uk -MP meetings today!
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
Today @tomdolphin.bsky.social met
@ruthcadbury.bsky.social, Chair of the Transport Select Committee in Parliament.
Discussions included pressing issues facing doctors and the Government’s upcoming road safety strategy, including measures to lower the UK blood alcohol limit for driving.
@ruthcadbury.bsky.social, Chair of the Transport Select Committee in Parliament.
Discussions included pressing issues facing doctors and the Government’s upcoming road safety strategy, including measures to lower the UK blood alcohol limit for driving.
November 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Today @tomdolphin.bsky.social met
@ruthcadbury.bsky.social, Chair of the Transport Select Committee in Parliament.
Discussions included pressing issues facing doctors and the Government’s upcoming road safety strategy, including measures to lower the UK blood alcohol limit for driving.
@ruthcadbury.bsky.social, Chair of the Transport Select Committee in Parliament.
Discussions included pressing issues facing doctors and the Government’s upcoming road safety strategy, including measures to lower the UK blood alcohol limit for driving.
Reading the report really took me back to those days all doctors and NHS workers will remember; knowing it was coming, knowing it was going to be bad.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
“Lives could have been saved.”
Today’s Covid Inquiry report lays bare the Government’s catastrophic failure to manage the pandemic, as our council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social told Sky News
Today’s Covid Inquiry report lays bare the Government’s catastrophic failure to manage the pandemic, as our council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social told Sky News
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reading the report really took me back to those days all doctors and NHS workers will remember; knowing it was coming, knowing it was going to be bad.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
Heading back home now from the GP conference in Manchester. Good meeting at the MRI afterwards; local members sold on the BMA strategy - they really get the importance of shifting to an organising model and how it gets wins in the workplace and on professional issues. @bma.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Heading back home now from the GP conference in Manchester. Good meeting at the MRI afterwards; local members sold on the BMA strategy - they really get the importance of shifting to an organising model and how it gets wins in the workplace and on professional issues. @bma.org.uk
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
The Govt has suggested a pay uplift of just 2.5% for doctors next year, well below inflation.
With resident doctors striking next month over pay and jobs, it is “frankly indefensible that yet another Government is once again suggesting real-terms pay cut for doctors," says
@tomdolphin.bsky.social
With resident doctors striking next month over pay and jobs, it is “frankly indefensible that yet another Government is once again suggesting real-terms pay cut for doctors," says
@tomdolphin.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The Govt has suggested a pay uplift of just 2.5% for doctors next year, well below inflation.
With resident doctors striking next month over pay and jobs, it is “frankly indefensible that yet another Government is once again suggesting real-terms pay cut for doctors," says
@tomdolphin.bsky.social
With resident doctors striking next month over pay and jobs, it is “frankly indefensible that yet another Government is once again suggesting real-terms pay cut for doctors," says
@tomdolphin.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
🔴 A hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, was hit by a bomb on Monday — 4 injured, 57 patients evacuated. Our teams are providing psychological support.
Attacks on medical facilities violate International Humanitarian Law.
Health is not a target.
#NotATarget #Ukraine
Attacks on medical facilities violate International Humanitarian Law.
Health is not a target.
#NotATarget #Ukraine
October 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
🔴 A hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, was hit by a bomb on Monday — 4 injured, 57 patients evacuated. Our teams are providing psychological support.
Attacks on medical facilities violate International Humanitarian Law.
Health is not a target.
#NotATarget #Ukraine
Attacks on medical facilities violate International Humanitarian Law.
Health is not a target.
#NotATarget #Ukraine
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
"We want to be assured that no one will be left behind in this new online hospital"
Our Chair of Council @tomdolphin.bsky.social responds to the Government's announcement www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Our Chair of Council @tomdolphin.bsky.social responds to the Government's announcement www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
New online hospital must pay attention to needs of patients, says BMA - BMA media centre - BMA
Press release from the BMA
www.bma.org.uk
September 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
"We want to be assured that no one will be left behind in this new online hospital"
Our Chair of Council @tomdolphin.bsky.social responds to the Government's announcement www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Our Chair of Council @tomdolphin.bsky.social responds to the Government's announcement www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
The BMA is now 200,000 members strong - and counting.
Commenting, council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social said: "Together we are all the BMA, and alongside our brilliant staff, the members are what give the BMA its voice and strength."
Read more: www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...
Commenting, council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social said: "Together we are all the BMA, and alongside our brilliant staff, the members are what give the BMA its voice and strength."
Read more: www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...
September 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The BMA is now 200,000 members strong - and counting.
Commenting, council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social said: "Together we are all the BMA, and alongside our brilliant staff, the members are what give the BMA its voice and strength."
Read more: www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...
Commenting, council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social said: "Together we are all the BMA, and alongside our brilliant staff, the members are what give the BMA its voice and strength."
Read more: www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...
Pleasure to do this great panel hosted by @thefabians.bsky.social along w Nicola Rayner (@rcn.org.uk) and @kevinmckenna.co.uk
We covered workforce planning (lacking), AI in healthcare (unready) and how to get from here to the 10 Year Health Plan’s end points (unclear but may be for us to determine)
We covered workforce planning (lacking), AI in healthcare (unready) and how to get from here to the 10 Year Health Plan’s end points (unclear but may be for us to determine)
September 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Pleasure to do this great panel hosted by @thefabians.bsky.social along w Nicola Rayner (@rcn.org.uk) and @kevinmckenna.co.uk
We covered workforce planning (lacking), AI in healthcare (unready) and how to get from here to the 10 Year Health Plan’s end points (unclear but may be for us to determine)
We covered workforce planning (lacking), AI in healthcare (unready) and how to get from here to the 10 Year Health Plan’s end points (unclear but may be for us to determine)
A pleasure to chair @bma.org.uk Resident Doctors Committee meeting today for the elections section. Congratulations to the new officer team, and thank you and well done to the outgoing team, who worked incredibly hard this last year for members. The fight to restore our pay continues!
September 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A pleasure to chair @bma.org.uk Resident Doctors Committee meeting today for the elections section. Congratulations to the new officer team, and thank you and well done to the outgoing team, who worked incredibly hard this last year for members. The fight to restore our pay continues!
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
“This announcement will cause a great deal of anxiety and distress to our much-needed and valued international workforce, including international doctors, who are the backbone of the health services in the UK" @tomdolphin.bsky.social
Read our response in full www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Read our response in full www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Reform immigration announcement will cause anxiety and distress to much-needed international health workforce, says BMA - BMA media centre - BMA
Press release from the BMA
www.bma.org.uk
September 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
“This announcement will cause a great deal of anxiety and distress to our much-needed and valued international workforce, including international doctors, who are the backbone of the health services in the UK" @tomdolphin.bsky.social
Read our response in full www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Read our response in full www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
"A spiralling crisis and a disjointed health service which demands a solution. So a long-term plan for the NHS is not just appealing but is essential.”
@tomdolphin.bsky.social delivers keynote speech at #SRM25, where our members will debate if this plan is the solution to the NHS in crisis.
@tomdolphin.bsky.social delivers keynote speech at #SRM25, where our members will debate if this plan is the solution to the NHS in crisis.
September 14, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"A spiralling crisis and a disjointed health service which demands a solution. So a long-term plan for the NHS is not just appealing but is essential.”
@tomdolphin.bsky.social delivers keynote speech at #SRM25, where our members will debate if this plan is the solution to the NHS in crisis.
@tomdolphin.bsky.social delivers keynote speech at #SRM25, where our members will debate if this plan is the solution to the NHS in crisis.
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
"When you make a big change, it requires investment... We need more detail about how we're going to get from here to there" @tomdolphin.bsky.social spoke to BBC Breakfast this morning ahead of #SRM25, where our members will debate the NHS England 10-Year Health Plan
www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/s...
www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/s...
September 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
"When you make a big change, it requires investment... We need more detail about how we're going to get from here to there" @tomdolphin.bsky.social spoke to BBC Breakfast this morning ahead of #SRM25, where our members will debate the NHS England 10-Year Health Plan
www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/s...
www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/s...
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
Boris Johnson says these are just common sense and reasonable statements
September 11, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Boris Johnson says these are just common sense and reasonable statements
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
The 'trans lobby' here is trans people and their families who were - shock horror - consulted about trans health care.
David Thompson writes that consulting trans groups is "contradictory to the expert warnings of the Cass Review".
David Thompson writes that consulting trans groups is "contradictory to the expert warnings of the Cass Review".
September 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The 'trans lobby' here is trans people and their families who were - shock horror - consulted about trans health care.
David Thompson writes that consulting trans groups is "contradictory to the expert warnings of the Cass Review".
David Thompson writes that consulting trans groups is "contradictory to the expert warnings of the Cass Review".
Quick update on a few other things to end the day:
Our NHS colleagues are angry;
Residents in England are making some progress in talks;
GPs in NI are acting collectively;
@bma-ni.bsky.social are in dispute over unpaid uplifts; and
@BMAstudents have a win on student funding.
Have a good weekend!
Our NHS colleagues are angry;
Residents in England are making some progress in talks;
GPs in NI are acting collectively;
@bma-ni.bsky.social are in dispute over unpaid uplifts; and
@BMAstudents have a win on student funding.
Have a good weekend!
September 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Quick update on a few other things to end the day:
Our NHS colleagues are angry;
Residents in England are making some progress in talks;
GPs in NI are acting collectively;
@bma-ni.bsky.social are in dispute over unpaid uplifts; and
@BMAstudents have a win on student funding.
Have a good weekend!
Our NHS colleagues are angry;
Residents in England are making some progress in talks;
GPs in NI are acting collectively;
@bma-ni.bsky.social are in dispute over unpaid uplifts; and
@BMAstudents have a win on student funding.
Have a good weekend!
Doctors know we need nationally-set scope for PAs and AAs. Local scope will mean local scope creep, without a doubt - we're already seeing it happening. It's not fair on them and it's not fair on patients or the supervising doctors.
So why is no-one taking this responsibility?
So why is no-one taking this responsibility?
Regrettably the High Court has today ruled that the GMC isn't legally required to set a safe scope of practice for assistants.
The GMC should take no comfort in this. Doctors are clear; without a national scope of practice patient safety is at risk.
We're considering next steps.
The GMC should take no comfort in this. Doctors are clear; without a national scope of practice patient safety is at risk.
We're considering next steps.
Sorry to say our judicial review was dismissed on all grounds.
FULL STATEMENT anaesthetistsunited.com/case-dismiss...
FULL STATEMENT anaesthetistsunited.com/case-dismiss...
September 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Doctors know we need nationally-set scope for PAs and AAs. Local scope will mean local scope creep, without a doubt - we're already seeing it happening. It's not fair on them and it's not fair on patients or the supervising doctors.
So why is no-one taking this responsibility?
So why is no-one taking this responsibility?
Reposted by Tom Dolphin 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
To reiterate;
This is how the Guardian describes a tweet that advocates assaulting trans women;
“Posts on transgender issues”
This is how the Guardian describes a tweet that advocates assaulting trans women;
“Posts on transgender issues”
September 3, 2025 at 4:36 AM
To reiterate;
This is how the Guardian describes a tweet that advocates assaulting trans women;
“Posts on transgender issues”
This is how the Guardian describes a tweet that advocates assaulting trans women;
“Posts on transgender issues”
The BMA and many others warned that this was coming, and now it is here. The UK government must act immediately to prevent widespread death in Gaza from hunger. This is entirely man-made and is intolerable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck...
August 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The BMA and many others warned that this was coming, and now it is here. The UK government must act immediately to prevent widespread death in Gaza from hunger. This is entirely man-made and is intolerable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck...