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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

@tomdolphin.bsky.social
926 followers 290 following 185 posts

Chair of UK Council @bma.org.uk Anaesthetic consultant Fresh here from the bird app where I am thomasdolphin

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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
A pleasure to be part of a panel today at the @britishima.bsky.social conference in Glasgow talking about antiracism in the workplace, workforce planning failure, and GMC processes. Really interesting discussion and nice to meet one of our new Council members, Huda, afterwards too!
Dr Shehla Imtiaz-Umer, Dr Sahira Dar and me standing in front of a BIMA displayThe panel members: Asif Qasim, Farhat Mushtaq, Shehla Imtiaz-Umer (chairing the discussion), Azza Elghonaimy and me
(standing in a row at the side of the stage)
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
I’m pushing my luck sending my voting form for the BMA’s Council election back this late. Don’t miss your chance - post yours back ASAP! It must be back with Civica by 27 April ⏳⌛️
Selfie of me posting my BMA Council election vote back to Civica
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Marching today in solidarity with all those who oppose hate and division in our society at the @togetheralliance.bsky.social March in London
Doctors and medical students holding BMA placards and a banner that say “ Doctors against division“ and “Doctors for unity“
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
A pleasure to meet @werahobhouse.org.uk, Simon Opher, @shockatadam.bsky.social and other MPs today about the risks Palantir poses to our NHS - patients trust us with their most personal information and we have to protect their privacy. Thank you @martinwrigley.bsky.social for sponsoring the event!
Wera Hobhouse MP and me in front of a big banner sign saying “No Palantir in our NHS”; I’m holding a little sign saying the same thing
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Don't forget to return your BMA Council voting pack - I'm standing for Council again, so I can continue to fight for doctors and medical students. We need a strong union, and I'm driving forward our strategy to put power in the hands of the profession again.
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Great pleasure to address an all-member open meeting in Belfast tonight. We talked about the shocking health disparity between NI and the rest of the UK, the lack of training posts, the pull of Sláintecare, and how the BMA’s new, strong collective voice can start to address them together ✊
Me holding forth while standing behind a table laid with a BMA cloth, gesturing at the audience while making a point. Alan Stout, Chair of NI Council, is sitting watching from his place as convenor of the meeting. There were loads of people there but they’re all just out of frame, collectivising tooMe and Alan Stout, Chair of NI Council, in front of an old staircase at Riddel Hall in Belfast where the meeting was (but not in the meeting room itself as that was just a standard seminar room and not very interesting as a background for a photo)
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Doctors/med students: fill in @bma.org.uk's survey on advanced practice roles and their potential impact on training and for employers to extend their scope into work only doctors should be doing. It closes this Thurs at 4pm so be quick! (It takes ~10 mins) www.surveymonkey.com/r/MVXCB99
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
After a stormy arrival on Friday, had a full day yesterday meeting members on the Isle of Man; followed by Manx Care’s Chief Exec & MD; then the Chief Minister, Treasury Minister, Health Minister and DHSC’s Chief Officer. Productive conversations, progress on important issues:
Prakash Thiagarajan (Isle of Man Medical Society), Tim O’Neill (Chief Officer of DHSC), Claire Christian MHK (Health Minister) and me in the Isle of Man government office underneath the island government’s crestHelen Robinson-Gordon (BMA head of media) and me crossing the road outside the Tynwald (IoM Parliament)Prakash and me in Noble’s Hospital near Prakash’s department - behind us is the entrance to the children’s ward with an undersea-themed mural
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
It's twenty years today since I started my anaesthetic training, at Charing Cross Hospital. In that time I've looked after many thousands of patients, placed innumerable cannulas, injected rivers of propofol, and stuck a pine tree's worth of needles into people. 🧵
A photo of me from (I think) the Daily Telegraph used to illustrate a story where I gave a quote on behalf of the Junior Doctors Committee, roughly around the time of starting my anaesthetic training (that's definitely Charing Cross Hospital theatres...!). I'm in scrubs, with the surgical lights arrayed dramatically behind me and a stethoscope around my neckMe photographed in late 2025 in scrubs (still with a stethoscope around my neck) in front of shelves arrayed with anaesthetic drugs and labels; a pair of shears hangs invitingly on a hook
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Fascinated by the fruit options at lunchtime 🍎🍐🍌🍇🍋
A fruit bowl on offer at lunchtime at a recent all-day meeting I attended, which includes bananas, plums (for which there is no emoji, weirdly), pears, grapes, oranges, apples, little tomatoes and a single whole lemon
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
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!
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
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
Selfie in front of Queen’s Medical Centre main entrance, with the facade lit up by green and purple floodlights and with Christmas illuminations along the front canopy. PTS ambulances are jostling for space along the front of the building behind me.
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
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!
A quick selfie with Ben Ben/Elizabeth Tower in the background to make clear that I am, in fact, outside Parliament
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
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
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
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)
Sasjkia Otto hosting the panel with the four of us sitting in front of various Fabians/RCN/BMA backdrops. A low table in front of us holds water glasses and various pieces of paper and microphones.Sasjkia Otto hosting the panel with the four of us sitting in front of various Fabians/RCN/BMA backdrops. A low table in front of us holds water glasses and various pieces of paper and microphones.
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
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!
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
Well, @duolingoverde.bsky.social knows where it’s at ✊ Ensemble nous sommes plus forts; ensemble nous gagnerons!
Duolingo screenshot of a French lesson where you are asked to translate “I wanted to participate in the strike” into French - « J’ai voulu participer à la grève »

Under my correct answer Duo posted a green tick and the words “Good job!”, which by coincidence is what can follow from union membership
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Honoured to be at the Barts and The London Rites of Passage ceremony 2025 tonight - St Paul’s provides a magnificent backdrop for this key moment in the careers of these new doctors. 🖤🤍
Graduands wearing their BL hoods going into the north entrance of St Paul’sSt Paul’s cathedral central rotunda with graduands and their families taking their seatsThe west entrance door to St Paul’s
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Are you a resident thinking about taking a locum shift on a strike day? Why risk actively undermining the strike, when you could just wait for your back pay from Wes’ pay award (such as it is) to arrive in August? 😇
The Distracted Boyfriend meme: the boyfriend “You” is distracted from girlfriend “Strike Locum” by the passing girl “Full Pay Restoration”
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
What an experience to walk down the parade route between the National Theatre and the British Library groups and be cheered and waved at by thousands upon thousands of people ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🩷
The BMA/BMJ crew with placard and a huge banner, in the middle of Piccadilly The BMA/BMJ crew with placard and a huge banner, waiting on Park Lane to begin the March
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Pride is a protest - proud to represent LGBTQ+ doctors and medical students for @bma.org.uk at @PrideInLondon 2025!
Vassili Crispi and Tom Dolphin standing in front of some wrought-iron railings, both wearing scrubs with rainbow accessories
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
You should still post back your ballot if you're a resident doctor in England - it might not make it back to Civica in time but you gotta try, right? Data for reps, GP collective action, 10 Year Plan, interview for BBC News, more GP collective action, and now off to my on-call...
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
All organising is local, every conversation counts, every ballot builds our strength. Have I mentioned yet that you need to put your ballot in the post by Monday at the latest to be sure it's counted? We need the ballot to succeed, so pop a reminder in your local whatsapp now!
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Going round the hospital on my lunch break briefly to remind residents to return their ballots - signed up @BMA.org.uk newest member! Harsha, ED registrar and IMG, has signed up today specifically to join the pay campaign. Welcome to the union! ✊
Selfie of Harsha and me, in green scrubs, in the ED office - Harsha is holding up his new BMA lanyard and we’re both smiling like we know we’re going to win this fight
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
1) Residents in England, post your strike ballot back ASAP - and tell your colleagues 2) GPs in N Ireland, find your referendum email and stand up against contract imposition 3) Sign @bma.org.uk's demand for an alternative regulator to the GMC: activism.bma.org.uk/page/172664/... 4) Enjoy the sun! 🌞
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Just rescued another exhausted bee from the footpath and fed it some sugar water from the Beevive keyring I always have with me 🐝❤️ beevive.com
A bee resting on my index finger as it sips from the tiny Beevive sugar water container I’m holding with the same hand
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
There’s some strong fightback energy in the Pride month memes I’m seeing kicking about this year
Repeated instance of the words PRIDE MONTH where the letters in the middle become progressively more prominent down the page until it just says DEMON in rainbow coloursA progress pride flag in the shape of a flickering flame, with a scroll banner across the front which says “The first pride was a riot”. The tittle on the I in Pride is a tiny heart.A rainbow-hued brick with PRIDE WAS A RIOT sprayed on the side facing usA rainbow-coloured unicorn with a (horse) skull for a head is galloping across a black field with flames rising up where its hooves strike the ground. Around its neck, a banner flies, marked “We called off Pride. Now it’s Gay Wrath Month”
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
This headline is so unintentionally funny to me. Beware! Carcinization can happen to anyone at any time! 🦀😅
Headline and URL from the Telegraph:
"The militant 'crabs' threatening to bring the NHS to a standstill"
And the URL includes the string:
"militant crabs threaten bring nhs standstill doctor strike"

All accompanied by a picture of Mel and Ross from the UK Resident Doctors Committee looking very uncrustacean
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Image (supposedly taken from an anti-LGBTQ+ account) where the words "PRIDE MONTH" in white block capitals gradually morph through several iterations to show just the middle letters DEMON in rainbow colours
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Pride remains a protest. A protest at the erosion of our hard-won rights. A protest at the normalisation of marginalisation. A protest at the rise of hate. A protest at rainbow-washing by organisations whose actions harm the LGBTQ+ community. A protest to demand our safety.
Proud@BMA logo - Progress Pride flag with the BMA logo overlaid in white across the centre
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Well, they've given another real-terms pay cut to doctors. That's not pay restoration, it's more pay erosion; an insult to the medical profession. The BMA will not stand for this; we will stand together and if need be we will strike again. Wes Streeting, Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer: this is on you.
BMA orange graphic: 4% pay uplift is an insult
BMA - Restore pay. Restore value.
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
You're not imagining it, things are getting worse for LGBTQ+ people. Disappointing although not surprising to see the UK's downward trend on @ilgaeurope.bsky.social map of LGBTQ+ rights and protections. From 1st place in Europe to 22nd in just ten years. rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/countries/un...
Graph showing UK's score on the ILGA-Europe score, showing a peak score of 86% in 2015 (when we were top of the league in Europe) and are now at 45% in 2025 (and now in 22nd place).
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Employers hate this one weird trick to boost your standard of living👇
Tweet screenshot from Aren LeBrun (@proustmalone): “If unions didn’t work, Amazon wouldn’t be fighting tooth and nail to stop its workforce from unionizing”
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
This emergency motion (proposed by a woman) defending trans rights and condemning the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman was passed at Saturday's Resident Doctors Conference @bma.org.uk - thank you to these residents. The EHRC guidance arising from this ruling is deeply problematic.
Screenshot of the emergency motion, which condemns the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of the term "woman" as reductive, trans- and intersex-exclusionary and biologically nonsensical; reaffirms the BMA's position affirming the rights of trans and NB individuals; reminds the court of the existence of intersex people; condemns the scientific illiteracy of the ruling; and commits to strive for better access to necessary health services for trans, NB and gender-diverse people (but with more words).
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Parliament Square is FULL today - people spilling over into the road - thousands of people turned out to defend trans rights: trans people and c1s allies here to show transphobes that they haven’t won, not by a long way 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 #TransRightsAreHumanRights
Thousands of people packed into Parliament Square: view is from the periphery because I couldn’t get any closer! Many more spread out behind me too, pressed in to try not to fill the road ☺️
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Very excited that the wall-mounted cat shelves have been put up and are withstanding our cats’ “dynamic loading” (the new euphemism for gallumphing). Plus the company turned out to be in Ukraine so supporting UA exports too 😁
Our cat sitting in a hexagonal wooden box mounted on the wall, with another box abutting it. A shelf that is part of the route to get up there is visible at the bottom of the picture
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Anaesthetists at two London Trusts organised themselves and got a 50% rise to their extracontractual rates. We can do the same across London for all grades and all specialties if we act together. Join the BMA London Scrap The Cap campaign here today: www.bma.org.uk/our-campaign... @BMA.org.uk ✊💙🧡
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Energising day training up doctor reps in @bma.org.uk Yorkshire and NE regions on workplace organising and running strong campaigns that are driven by members and win results. Good to hear the various issues to which they’re going apply today’s learning in their own hospitals! ✊
The group arrayed in front of the presentation screen with “Organising for local action / Yorkshire and NE region” on the slide plus the BMA logoBroken up into smaller teams of 4-5 around the long table, the attendees discuss how they will tackle the scenario issue in a group exerciseAndrew, one hand in his pocket, stands at the screen pointing to something on the slide, while the reps attentively listen.A delightful view of old York across the Ouse, with the Minster visible to the left and the buildings fronting onto the river spread across the mid-ground of the picture
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
BMA London's Scrap The Cap campaign is gaining momentum, with thousands of hospital doctors of all grades and specialties across London signed up to stand together to demand our time is valued appropriately by managers. Doctors in London, take that first step today! www.bma.org.uk/our-campaign...
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
I don't mean to be awkward but honestly, this is a weird choice to be offered. "Select the most relevant" doesn't excuse the category overlap. "Are you an anaesthetist or a doctor?" vibes Anyway, good news, the Leng Review survey of the profession is out: consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/67b88983cde4...
Screenshot of consultation form's initial "About you" questions:

About you
Do you work (currently or previously) as one of the following?

Select the most relevant.

- Anaesthesia Associate
- Resident doctor, including foundation years
- Specialty and associate specialist doctor
- Anaesthetist
- Other
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Heartened by the energy and ideas in the room at @WestMidsBMA regional training day - how to organise for local action in your workplace, with strategies and broad approaches for building campaigns and winning change for members, with examples of strong wins to light the way ✊💙
Resident doctor reps having an animated discussion about how to address a scenario about PA use in their hospital, St HypotheticalTable discussion about local campaign on extracontractual work (not so hypothetical for some)Group photo of all the local reps - a big crowd of about 40 people gathered in a semicircle. The projector screen behind says “Organising for local action - Midlands Region” with the BMA logoA BMA-branded pen sits atop some notes about addressing the hypothetical scenario
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
I feel like non-anaesthetists might rightly query the nomenclature of some of our kit
Stocked-up anaesthetic drawers with stock labels that say:
MAD
ENTROPY SENSORS
CURLY WURLIES
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
This dramatic scene was the authorities trying to show what happens when one man stands up against the rich and powerful. I don't think this was how the NYPD were anticipating it would look. Perhaps El Greco's piece should be retitled "Christ's Perp Walk To The Praetorium"...
Luigi Mangione is led from the heliport in NYC by a large crowd of policemen, many armed with rifles. Mangione is wearing a bright orange prison jumpsuit and has his hands shackled to his belt in front of him. He stands out from the crowd of black-clad policemen around him.El Greco's painting "The Disrobing of Christ" which shows Jesus in a bright orange robe almost exactly the same shade as Mangione's prison jumpsuit, surrounded by soldiers dressed in 16th century Spanish military garb
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Really pleased by today's inaugural meeting for Proud@BMA, the new LGBTQ+ network within @the-bma.bsky.social. Good discussions and positive ideas for supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues and promoting inclusivity in the profession. Looking forward to seeing the plans blossom and Proud@BMA grow!
Photo from summer 2024 and the BMA presence at the Pride In London march. Staff and members are holding a large Progress Pride flag banner with the BMA logo on it, somewhere in central London with crowds along the side of the road looking on as the parade goes by
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
A long but productive day at @thebma.bsky.social, training doctors in how to organise in the workplace - learning from success stories and planning how we will build power in the workplace for and with our colleagues as the BMA switches its focus to local activism. We want doctors to have strength!
Me gesticulating wildly as I talk about assessing colleagues’ readiness to participate in the campaign (whatever that campaign might be)Me listening attentively in front of a big screen as Andrew Jordan talks about activism in the workplace from a lectern the other side of the screen A room at BMA House with two dozen activists and LNC Chairs listening to Andrew Jordan talking about workplace organising
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Tom Dolphin 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @tomdolphin.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
…and suddenly, without warning, age settled on him, its grey weariness enveloping him in its wearying cold arms… in that moment he realised that years had gone by in hours and he was not young, not at all, not now. He settled in and prepared himself to return to the earth…
Notification message from my GP telling me I have to come and have my blood pressure checked
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