The WRDC (Welsh Resident doctors committee) considers all matters affecting resident doctors in Wales and acts on their behalf. We do this by informing, liaising and lobbying with Welsh Government, HEIW (Health Education and Improvement Wales), NWSSP (NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership) and local health boards. We also work closely with the Welsh council and the UKRDC.
Our priorities
Pay restoration for resident doctors in Wales
After three successful rounds of strike action over pay, in June resident doctors in Wales voted YES to accept a pay offer from the Welsh Government for the 2023/24 pay year. This has been an important first step on the road to restoring pay for resident doctors working across Wales, and we continue to fight for full pay restoration and ensure the vital work of resident doctors is valued.
Join our pay restoration campaign
Resident doctor contract talks in Wales
In October 2022, members voted to reject the proposed contract deal. As part of the pay deal agreed by members in June 2024, WRDC will re-enter contract negotiations with the Welsh Government later in 2024 with the ambition of reaching an agreement that would be put to members for implementation in 2025/26.
This is an important opportunity to update the terms and conditions under which resident doctors in Wales work, currently employed on the 2002 contract, and to address issues raised by members during the previous unsuccessful round of contract reform in 2022. The committee has made clear that any renegotiation of the rejected proposals from 2022 must deal with the significant concerns regarding the pay systems and working hours that members raised and include appropriate investment.
Study budget review
As part of the pay deal agreed by members in June 2024, the Welsh Government has agreed to work with WRDC on changes to the current study budget and study leave system in Wales. This will involve examining barriers to accessing educational/development time, including study leave and budgets, the amount of budget allocated to each trainee, how to make improvements to systems and processes, and develop a new system that will enhance access to and transparency of study budgets.
Fatigue and facilities charter
The Welsh Fatigue and Facilities Charter and its accompanying FAQs was launched in May 2020. All health boards in Wales have signed up to the charter and must take active steps towards compliance with its stipulations.
However, large parts of the charter remain unimplemented in health boards and trusts. The Welsh Government and NHS Employers Wales, as part of the pay deal agreed in June 2024, will recommit to the provisions outlined in the charter and will work proactively with WRDC to monitor implementation plans and timelines within health boards and trusts.
Read more about BMA work on fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Travel and relocation expenses reimbursement
WRDC continues to work with HEIW to review the Welsh trainee travel and relocation expenses policy, ensuring that the policy provides adequate support for trainees who must rotate for their training.
Single lead employer for hospital-based trainees
WRDC is a key stakeholder on the project board for the implementation of NWSSP as the single lead employer for hospital-based trainees in Wales. Being a member of the board enables us to raise our members’ issues directly with NWSSP and advocate for a smooth transition process for all trainees.
Following the roll out of the single lead employer model for hospital-based trainees, WRDC continues to work closely with NWSSP to monitor any issues raised by trainees and ensure these are dealt with quickly.
Less than full time training
WRDC has successfully lobbied for greater flexibility within the LTFT training policy in Wales. The 2022 policy removes the requirement for resident doctors to fall into eligibility categories in order to apply to train LTFT. It also stipulates that all specialties should offer a range of percentage WTE (working time equivalent) options, rather than just the typically offered 50%.
Our people
Co-Chairs: Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey
Deputy chairs:
Dr Emily Louise Sams (education and training)
Dr Amna Khalid Abdelrahman Babiker (terms and conditions)
WRDC executive subcommittee members (including co-chairs and deputy chairs):
Dr Benedict Evans
Dr Imogen John
Dr Claire Norman
WRDC terms and conditions sub-committee members (including co-chairs and deputy chairs and members of the executive subcommittee):
Dr Daniel Peter Jones
Dr Thomas Winston Grother
Dr Joshua William James Thomas-Parr
Dr Georgina Francis Lauren Budd
Dr Daniel Peter Jones
Dr Joshua William James Thomas-Parr
Dr Imogen Cleo Rimmer
Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu
Dr Jerome James Ling
Dr Kayode Damilola Makinde
Dr Aled Lloyd
Dr Thomas Winston Grother
Dr Emily Louise Sams
Dr Sarah Winter
Dr Karishma Khan
Dr Hannah Wise
Dr Rachel Wallice
Dr Peter Fahey
Dr Benedict Evans
Dr Mohammad Mostafa Chizari
Dr Claire Norman
Dr Mohammed Anwar
Dr Andrew Hughes
Dr Josie Cheetham
Dr James Ellis
Dr Michael Gardiner
Dr Craig George-McDowall
Dr Lucy Hall
Dr Megan Lloyd-Hughes
Dr Imogen John
Dr Louise Tucker
Dr Amna Khalid Abdelrahman Babiker
Take part in one of our free courses designed to give you the right skills to:
- break down equality and inclusion bias (CPD-accredited)
- value difference and inclusivity
- live our BMA behaviour principles.
Our meetings
We meet four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting resident doctors in Wales. These meetings are open to members of the WRDC only.
Meetings dates:
• 16 October 2024
• 9 January 2025
• 11 March 2025
• 4 June 2025
All meetings take place from 10am to 3pm either virtually or at:
BMA Cymru Wales
5th Floor
2 Caspian Point
Caspian Way
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 4DQ
How to join WRDC
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of WRDC, this is:
- Seats/term - every two years, elections for 30 seats on WJDC take place for a two-session term.
- Timeline - elections are usually held in the summer, after the final meeting of the session.
- Eligibility - all junior doctors who work in Wales are eligible to stand in this election. All junior doctors who are BMA members and work in Wales can vote in this election.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the WRDC, email [email protected].
Join the BMA Wales resident doctors Facebook page, to stay up to date with the work of the WRDC.
WRDC direct elections
- 30 seats
2 year term 2024-2026
Eligibility
To stand or vote in these elections, you must:
- be a BMA resident doctor who works in Wales
- have a BMA online account.
Nominations and casting your vote
- Nominations (online) - from 12 noon, Thursday 8 August 2024 to 12 noon, Thursday 22 August 2024.
- Ballot (online) - from 12 noon, Friday 23 August 2024 to 12 noon, Friday 6 September, 2024.
Read our guide on how to use our online system for elections.
Results
Results will be announced Monday 9 September on the election portal.
If you have any questions about these elections, please email: [email protected]
The BMA is working to meet the challenges that women face in the medical profession.
Stand for a BMA committee and be part of this change.
As of 18 September, all references to junior doctors in BMA communications have been changed to ‘resident doctors’.
Making up nearly 25% of all doctors in the UK, this cohort will now have a title that better reflects their huge range of skills and responsibilities.
Find out more about why junior doctors are now known as 'resident doctors'.