Why I am dropping the post-nominal proposal

Yesterday, I said in an all-member email that now is the time to show we value our SAS colleagues – and I am pleased to say that it seems from the feedback we have received that everyone agrees.

As I said in my message, for too long SAS doctors, and those who have become consultants without taking the exam, as evidenced by the focus groups carried out for our member survey, have felt unsupported and undervalued by the College. This is despite their crucial role in delivering excellent patient care.

The current restriction on voting rights goes against our values-based approach as an inclusive, progressive and caring medical royal college. As a way of rectifying this deep-rooted problem, we were proposing at our AGM on Monday, to extend voting rights and introduce new post-nominals.

However, over the last 22 hours or so, I have been listening to what our members are saying in response to these proposals. Many colleagues have emailed and messaged me with their thoughts on our proposals – which were endorsed unanimously by Council in October and backed by our Board of Trustees.

It is clear there is strong support for the suggestion to extend voting rights. However, there is significant concern about introducing new post-nominals. Therefore, the officer team and I have decided to de-couple the proposal to create new post-nominals from the idea of extending voting rights.

As a result, I can confirm that as Chair of Monday’s AGM I would be happy to accept an amendment to strike out the proposal for new post-nominals.

Under our rules, the only way this can be removed is via an amendment proposed at the AGM. By accepting an amendment – currently being drawn up by one of our members – at the AGM, it would mean the proposal to create new post-nominals would be completely set to one side.

We have listened to the feedback and decided that this particular proposal should be put on pause.

The idea for new post-nominals can be considered again following further debate at Council and the Board of Trustees, and wider discussion and consideration among our wider membership.

All the details of the proposals and how to take part in the AGM in-person, or online, are available on our AGM 2022 page.

Thank you for your continued support and excellent work within our unique and critically-important specialty, which does so much to provide excellent care to those with mental illness in the UK and around the world.

Best wishes,

Adrian