Emma Runswick, a junior doctor working in a community mental health team in Greater Manchester, takes over from David Wrigley who is a long-standing member of BMA council and is a GP in north Lancashire. Dr Runswick won a vote against joint candidates for the post Chrissie Clayton and Alex Freeman.
Dr Runswick said: ‘I am incredibly grateful to have been elected as the BMA’s deputy chair of council. I am only the second junior doctor to have been elected as a chief officer, and I am proud that our union is changing for the better.
‘I look forward to delivering an ambitious set of priorities, which must include building a high-density union with a strong industrial strategy. This is crucial if we are to deliver full pay restoration and pension taxation reform.
‘This election shows that our union is committed to delivering for members, confronting racism in medicine head-on, and standing up for all doctors across the NHS, private sector employers, in public health, universities, and beyond.
‘I will be listening to others’ expertise and varied perspectives on how we can best deliver for members – whether that is achieving much-needed GMC reform or supporting our international medical graduates. Doctors and medical students should have high expectations, and I will work hard to meet them.’
Dr Runswick is currently chair of the North West regional junior doctors committee and has been an elected member of the BMA’s UK council since 2018.
She was voted into post at the first meeting of the new BMA council on Wednesday (13 July). BMA council sets the strategic direction of the association in line with policy decided by the representative body. The meeting covered issues including the association’s strategy on pay across the UK.
Dr Runswick sits alongside the newly elected chair Professor Philip Banfield, representative body chair Dr Latifa Patel and treasurer Dr Trevor Pickersgill to complete the BMA’s chief officer team.
Dr Runswick will hold the role for an initial term of three years and will support the council chair in his leadership of the association.