British Medical Association facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | BMA |
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| Predecessor | Provincial Medical and Surgical Association |
| Founded | 9 July 1832 |
| Founder | Charles Hastings |
| Headquarters | Tavistock Square, London, England |
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Region served
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United Kingdom |
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Members
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 190,366 (2023) |
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Key people
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| Publication | The BMJ |
The British Medical Association (BMA) is a special group for doctors in the United Kingdom. It acts like a trade union, helping doctors with their jobs and rights. The BMA does not decide if someone is qualified to be a doctor; that job belongs to the General Medical Council. The BMA works with the National Health Service (NHS) to help set rules and agreements for doctors.
The main goal of the BMA is to "promote medical and related sciences." It also aims to "maintain the honour and interests of the medical profession." This means they want to help medical science grow and make sure doctors are respected and treated fairly.
Contents
History of the BMA
How the BMA Started
The British Medical Association began a long time ago. It started from a group called the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association (PMSA). This group was founded by Sir Charles Hastings in 1832. Another group, also called the "British Medical Association," was started by George Webster in 1836.
By 1842, the PMSA had grown to 1,350 members. They even started their own weekly newspaper, The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. In 1853, the PMSA welcomed doctors from London. Then, in 1856, it changed its name to the British Medical Association. From 1857, their newspaper became known as the British Medical Journal or BMJ.
The BMA helped create the Medical Act 1858. This important law set up the General Medical Council. It also created rules for who could practice as a doctor. Before this, anyone could say they were a doctor, even without training. This law helped make sure doctors were properly qualified.
After this, the BMA became very important in medical politics. They worked on issues like healthcare for the poor, stopping fake cures, and improving public health. They also looked at alternative medicine and military medicine. A key group within the BMA was the Parliamentary Bills Committee. It was formed in 1863 to help shape laws about public health.
The BMA in the Early 1900s
In 1911, the government introduced the National Health Insurance Bill. This bill aimed to help people pay for sickness treatment. The BMA liked the idea but had some concerns. They felt doctors should be more involved in how the care was given. The BMA suggested "Six Cardinal Points" that they believed should be part of the law.
The final bill was passed in 1913. Four of the BMA's six points were included. These points set an income limit for joining the plan. They also allowed patients to choose their own doctor. The law also made sure doctors were paid fairly. Finally, it ensured doctors had a say in how the Act worked.
During World War I, the BMA helped manage doctors for the armed forces. They also made sure there were enough doctors for civilians. The BMA did this again during World War II. During these times, the BMA also worked on other issues. These included safe medicines, good nutrition, and how alcohol affected road accidents.
After World War II, the BMA saw a need for better healthcare for everyone. They created their own plan for a "general medical service for the nation."
When the Labour Party won the 1945 election, they promised national health insurance. The BMA then spent three years talking with Health Minister Aneurin Bevan. They worked to make sure doctors could still have private patients and be paid in certain ways under the new National Health Service.
In 2005, a bus exploded near the BMA headquarters in London. This happened during the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The building was damaged, but doctors inside were able to help the police and ambulance teams.
Who Can Join the BMA?
As of July 2023, the BMA has over 190,000 members. It is officially recognized by the British government. This means the BMA can speak for doctors on important issues. They share this role with another group, the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA).
Doctors who join the BMA get help with their jobs. This includes advice on contracts, pay, and other work issues. Members also receive a subscription to The BMJ, which is a well-known medical journal.
BMA Committees
The BMA has many committees. These groups are made up of doctors who are elected by other members. Their job is to represent doctors and make decisions. The most important committee is the Council. It meets several times a year to carry out the BMA's policies.
There are also committees that represent different types of doctors. These are called "Branch of Practice" committees. They include:
- Consultants Committee (CC) – for senior hospital doctors.
- General Practitioners Committee (GPC) – for NHS family doctors and those training to be GPs.
- Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) – for doctors who are still in training.
- Medical Academic Staff Committee (MASC) – for doctors who work in universities and research.
- Medical Students Committee (MSC) – for students studying to become doctors.
- Public Health Medicine Committee (PHMC) – for doctors who work to improve public health.
- Staff and Associate Specialists Committee (SASC) – for doctors in certain hospital roles below consultant level.
These committees help make sure all doctors' voices are heard. Similar committees exist in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Medical Ethics Committee
The Medical Ethics Committee helps the BMA with questions about medical ethics. This means they discuss what is right and wrong in medicine. They look at new issues and important principles.
Armed Forces Committee
The BMA supports doctors who work in the armed forces. The Armed Forces Committee (AFC) represents these doctors. This includes those serving in war zones or working for the Ministry of Defence. A big part of their work is to advise on pay for military doctors. They also talk with the Ministry of Defence about job conditions for civilian doctors.
Private Practice Committee
The Private Practice Committee supports doctors who also work outside the NHS. This group looks at issues for doctors who have private patients. They discuss topics like how doctors are re-approved to practice. They also help with challenges doctors face with private medical insurance.
Other Committees
The BMA also has other committees that focus on specific areas. These include:
- Medical Ethics (as mentioned above)
- Board of Medical Education
- Equality and Diversity Committee
- Pensions
- Civil and Public Services Committee
- International Committee
- Medico-Legal
- Occupational Health
- GP Trainees' Subcommittee
BMA Headquarters
BMA House has been the main office for the BMA since 1925. Before that, their office was on The Strand. BMA House has offices for staff and is used for BMA meetings and events. You can also rent parts of the building for private events.
The building was first designed for another group by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1911. But World War I stopped the building work. After the war, the original owners could not afford to finish it. So, the BMA bought it for £50,000. They later bought the land it sits on in 1962.
After buying the building, the BMA asked Lutyens to finish it. King George V and Queen Mary officially opened it on July 13, 1925. Later, the BMA added more parts to the building. These extensions were completed in 1929 and later in the 1940s and 1950s.
In the central courtyard, there is a war memorial from 1954. It was made by James Woodford. This memorial is a bronze fountain with four stone statues. It is considered a very good example of a memorial for a civilian profession from World War II.
Key People at the BMA
The BMA has a Chair who leads the organization. Here are some of the people who have been Chair:
- 1884–? Professor James Cuming
- 1943–1949 Sir Guy Dain
- 1949–?: Robert Leech Newell
- ?–1966: John Raymond Nicholson-Lailey
- 1966–1971: Sir Ronald Gibson
- ?–1976: Walpole Lewin
- 1976–1979: Sir James Cameron
- 1984–1990: John Marks
- 1990–1993: Jeremy Lee-Potter
- 1993–1998: Sandy MacAra
- 1998–2003: Ian Bogle
- 2003–2007: James Johnson
- 2007–2012 Hamish Meldrum
- 2012–2017: Mark Porter
- 2017–2022: Chaand Nagpaul
- 2022–present: Philip Banfield
Fair and Ethical Trade
The BMA has a group called the Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group (MFETG). This group started in 2007. It works to make sure medical products are made in a fair and ethical way. This means checking that workers are treated well and paid fairly.
The group has worked with an organization called Swedwatch. They looked into how surgical instruments are made in Sialkot, Pakistan. They wanted to make sure the working conditions were good.
BMA Grants
The BMA offers grants to doctors for research and other reasons. These grants help doctors with their education and projects. Here are some of the main grants:
Claire Wand Fund This fund helps doctors, especially family doctors, with their further education.
Humanitarian Fund The BMA Humanitarian Fund gives grants of up to £3,000. These grants support projects in developing countries.
BMA Research Grants The BMA gives out ten research grants each year, totaling £500,000. These grants support different types of medical research.
BMA Logo and Symbols
The BMA's logo includes a special symbol. It is a twisted staff with a snake wrapped around it. This symbol is called the rod of Asclepius. It is linked to Asclepius, who was the Greek god of healing.
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BMA Awards
The BMA gives out several awards to recognize important work in medicine:
- The BMA Medical Book awards are given every year. They recognize the best medical books in many different subjects. There are also special awards for illustrated books, student textbooks, and young authors. One book is chosen as the overall "Medical Book of the Year."
- The Association Medal is given to members who have done "outstanding and sustained services" for the BMA.
- Fellowship of the Association is awarded for "distinguished and notable" services to the BMA and the medical profession.
- The Gold Medal is given to people who have "conspicuously raised the character of the medical profession." This award started in 1877.
See also
- World Medical Association
- The Doctors' Association UK
- British International Doctors Association
