The BMA

Dr @SAS_DrClodagh deputy chair of BMA NIC spoke to @BBCRadioFoyle following Tuesday’s announcement that consultants, SAS and resident doctors would be balloted for industrial action over pay. Listen back here at 45:54: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Changes to NHS England will mean changes to medical education and training. It's vital any reforms are handled well, so the BMA is keeping a close eye on the situation. We've developed a number of principles that reforms must follow. Read them here: bma.org.uk/advice-and-sup…

Good work w @NHSEngland & @DHSCgovuk re: referral processes This isn’t a ‘win’ it’s what it should always have been Next: the need for a safety framework when we face exceptional demand Secure that & we start on the new contract Alternative? GP Collective Action from May 1st

Doctors are workers, and workers have the right to strike. It’s welcome to hear support for that principle from @SKinnock, especially following recent speculation about restrictions on industrial action for doctors.

Today’s debate in Westminster on the UK foundation programme is timely. Removing academic achievement, and interest, in allocation to the Specialised FP doesn’t represent progress or fairness. @TheBMA is calling on @NHSEngland to support academic careers thelancet.com/journals/lance…

On Times Radio today, resident doctor committee chair @fletchjack pushed back on a story in The Times that we had "agreed an offer with Wes Streeting". Pure political briefing from the Government.

This story in The Times is a lie. Only the tens of thousands of resident doctor members we represent can agree a deal. Our negotiating team has a clear mandate from our committee and members to get back around the table and that is what the Health Secretary needs to engage with. Time spent briefing out misleading accounts of events would be better spent getting a final deal done.

Long road to see this finally come in with vital measures on both tobacco harm and youth vaping. .@TheBMA has long championed this, including our report on youth vaping in 2024. This Act will improve the lives of the public, patients and doctors

“There is no truth to this version of events. No deal was agreed by our negotiating team, because that’s not how the process works. Only the tens of thousands of resident doctor members we represent can agree a deal. What happened is that the Health Secretary made a final offer, which we warned fell short. It was presented and subsequently rejected by the full resident doctors committee, as we had warned it would be." - Dr Jack Fletcher, Resident Doctors Committee Chair thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/…

The Times story is complete nonsense and is pure political briefing from the Govt. I told NHSE, DHSC & the SoS before the last committee meeting that the deal fell short. Only to their surprise, it was rejected. I shook the SoS’s hand today as we walked into the room. I wonder what is briefed next that I’ve ‘agreed’ 🙄

During COVID-19, the UK delivered world-leading trials, rapid vaccine development, and one of the fastest rollouts globally. But now we are seeing a sustained decline in medical academic numbers. When the next pandemic hits, will we be so ready? Read the full story bma.org.uk/news-and-opini…

The pay review body’s 3.5% pay ‘uplift’ is disappointing for SAS doctors and consultants. Our value and pay is being eroded. On 11 May we will open ballots for industrial action in Northern Ireland for SAS doctors and consultants. Update your details: brnw.ch/21x1MNQ

Following .@TheBMA public health conference, I've summed up the event and the important messages we agreed: bma.org.uk/news-and-opini… A clear campaign is on the way: - Restore public health funding - 30 wte public health consultants/million pop - Prioritising prevention policy

Have you voted in the BMA council elections? You have one day left to get your voting papers in the post. Share this on your socials to make sure everyone gets the message and gets their voice heard. Find out more bma.org.uk/councilelectio…

I delivered evidence today to #HouseOfLords #childhoodvaccs on behalf of GPs for @TheBMA, together w Avon LMC’s Kim Ball @theRCN & RCGP’s @VictoriaTzB 💉IoS funds the jab not the job 💉Practices in deprived areas do ⬆️ work for ⬇️ income 💉fix call-recall & accountability

BMA Resident Doctors Committee chair @fletchjack spoke to the BMJ about the resident doctor dispute and why, after the recent breakdown in talks, the government needs to stop playing politics and get back round the negotiating table. Read more bmj.com/content/393/bm…

Consultant rheumatologist Anisur Rahman and F1 doctor Sarah Al Saad recently worked together. They discovered that each had written accounts of their F1 lives, in 1989 and 2025. So, they imagined a correspondence between their F1 selves. Read it here👇 thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/comme…

Last chance to vote in the biggest ever election to the BMA UK council. If you're a member, make sure you get your papers in the post by 22 April. Learn more: bma.org.uk/councilelectio…

‘An extraordinary feat’ As the latest report from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry praises the overall success of the UK’s vaccine roll-out, @thomasdolphin calls on the government to ensure that doctors’ are included in planning for future pandemics. Read our story👇 thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/healt…