Thread by @EmmelineLagunes

1. A very personal view & reflection on what happened at the #RCPsychIC AGM when members of the @rcpsych were asked to vote on a proposal to finally give #SASdoctors voting rights. It has been 5 days since, but I think there are issues & lessons worth discussing & reflecting on.

2. Learning the proposal would be voted at the AGM was a surprised for everyone, a +ve one for SAS doctors, but just a surprise for others. Some were not even aware we don't have voting rights, but the majority seemed to be upset they were not given enough time to process this.

3. However, it seemed the main unpleasant surprise was the proposal on granting post nominal titles to other non MRCPsych, yet paying members of the college, something that created great uproar. Although we understood the disagreement, some comments were very dismissal...

4.about those who haven't presented the exams. Many of us SAS drs felt there was an US & THEM mentality. However, I understood the lack of previous info/poll considering people's opinion also played an important part on people's reactions. No one wants to be imposed anything

5.Listening to people's concerns & trying to find a viable solution @DrAdrianJames decoupled the proposal on voting from post nominals, which I think everyone agreed was the right solution, we were just interested in voting rights. Still, a new issue emerged, the affiliate name.

6. We SAS doctors are registered with the college as affiliates, for which we need to work in psychiatry, be in the UK, have two MRCPsych referees, and be approved by the college. Still, it seemed many were concern of giving voting rights to this "never heard before" group.

7. It was hard to hear people questioning who the affiliates were, not only bcs is there with the other memberships details, but also bcs it showed the lack of info people have re who we are & our role with college, but this is an issue many SAS doctors face regardless of college

8. We tried the best we could to educate people re our roles as affiliates & our main goal, voting rights. However, the proposal was still linked with giving voting rights to international members, which also raised concern for some. I understood the concern. However...

9. I doubt international members would be that bother for voting re issue not affecting them, also I doubt their vote would have major impact as I understand the number of these members is quite low. Still, this is something unfortunately got dragged to the AGM proposal

10.The AGM started with confusion, some struggling to connect & others not knowing what was the voting for. I dreaded but thanked the opportunity to pledge for us with @OstryMarci unfortunately time was too limited, mainly compared with others, so we struggled to give our message

11. It was good to have two members speaking for us, but it was painful to hear others arguing for people to vote against. Still, I understand this is a democratic process in which everyone should have a voice, although there's some irony there considering the issue discussed.

12.The voting process followed, although the majority in the room voted yes, the online vote was less favourable, we ended with 63 % in favour, just less than 5% to get the great majority we needed. It was hard, it felt as a big loss, but I think there was still a big win there.

13. Despite the majority of people I spoke with stated they were not sure what they were voting for, they still voted for us to have this right. Their sense of fairness was greater than their fear or uncertainty, and that is good! The majority wanted us to have voting rights!

14. Although there were 30% who voted against. I know some probably were just not sure about what was being voted, but this is an issue that can be easily resolved. However, I know there are some who still don't want us to have a vote at all, but they are the minority.

15. They are the minority who see voting as a privilege they gained after completing training. A view probably generated from them not having had voting rights from day one when they started their training, hence regarding it as a privilege.

16. This shows the importance of a giving CT trainees the same right. To ensure the college embraces a culture of equality, it needs to start by providing rights to all its members, mainly those whose careers are dictated by it. We, need people who don't see rights as a privilege

17. People who will fight for equality, people who will be able to fight with their patients when they face discrimination. Our college should be the one leading on equality, unfortunately is not, yet...

The #RCPsychIC showed how United we can be when fighting a common goal.

18.Remember we play for the same team, we need all our team members to feel valued & cared to give their best. I trust most members agree we should have voting rights & will support this. It was a lost battle, but this fight will end when people see us as the ally & not the enemy

19. Thank you so much for your attention if you got this far, I guess it means you care. @DrAdrianJames @subodhdave1 @TrudiSene1 @DrLadeSmith @raj_psyc @wendyburn @DrKateLovett @adave_NHS @RCPsychSASdocs @clujinmyheart @DrKathrynP @KateAldersey @OstryMarci @DrChloeBeale @chrisol1