Thomas Dolphin (born 1978 or 1979)[1] is a British consultant anaesthetist who has served as Chair of the Council of the British Medical Association (BMA) since June 2025.
Early life
Dolphin was raised in Essex, his father worked as a paramedic and his mother was a teacher.[2] He works as part of a trauma surgery team at St Mary's Hospital, London.[2]
Career
From 2010 to 2012, Dolphin served as chairman of the BMA's junior doctors committee during which he supported the 2012 doctors' strike over pension reforms.[2][3] He joined the Labour Party in 2012 and served as Dawn Butler's election agent during the 2017, 2019 and 2024 United Kingdom general elections.[2] He also served as chair of Brent Central's constituency Labour Party and stood as a candidate in the 2024 election but was not shortlisted.[4] In July 2024, he tabled a motion that led to the BMA rejecting the Cass Review's findings against the provision of puberty blockers to children.[5][6]
Personal life
He lives in London with his husband.[2]
References
- Hayward, Eleanor (9 July 2025). "Who is the BMA leader behind new wave of doctor strikes?". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- Campbell, Denis (13 July 2025). "Tom Dolphin: BMA's new chair who's taking on government despite bid to be Labour MP". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- "Pensions row continues at BMA doctors' conference". The Telegraph. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- Grierson, Jamie (2 December 2025). "BMA chair denies using junior doctors' strikes to progress political career". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- Montgomery, Samuel; Swerling, Gabriella (27 June 2025). "Activist doctor opposed to puberty blocker ban now head of BMA". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- Searles, Michael (14 July 2025). "The militant strike ringleader who now controls the BMA". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.