Thursday 24 July 2025
Commenting on the upcoming industrial action by Resident Doctors organised by the BMA Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:
“The College recognises and respects everyone’s right to join union and to take industrial action if they choose to. RCEM is not a union, and it is not appropriate for us as a charitable organisation to offer any comment on the perceived rights or wrongs of any such action. What we can say is that we hope that a resolution can be found imminently, and that both parties continue their discussions in furtherance of that aim.
“Any Emergency Medicine staff who are working and think their service is becoming unsafe, for whatever reason, should escalate their concerns through their hospital administration in the usual way.
“This is normally through the Clinical Lead, Medical Director and the Chief Operating Officer. While derogations are currently limited to Mass Casualty Incidents, there are regular meetings between Trusts, NHS England and local BMA teams to review the situation.
“Anyone who needs urgent or emergency care during the industrial action should continue to seek help in the usual way – but to be aware there may be longer waits than usual.”
