BMA Departments
August 2007
The following areas make up the Association:
Membership Development
Ensures that membership benefits and services correspond to members’ needs, develop new and existing services and benefits, and ensure the growth, development and success of membership which is the organisation’s main source of revenue:
- Marketing and Publications
- Proposition Development
- Membership and Professional Records
Representational and Political Activities
Are recognised by the government and have autonomy regarding policy and action. They work to make doctors’ lives better; whether it is negotiating a new contract or better wages and pensions for doctors. There are a number of committees each representing the different groups of doctors:
- GPs
- Junior Doctors and Medical Students
- Senior Doctors
- Specialists and Doctors of the Armed Forces
Other departments include:
- Council
- Pensions
- Health Policy and Economic Research Unit
Professional Activities
Improve doctors’ lives by providing them with high quality advice, information and support. They produce research and guidance to support the delivery of high quality health services and to improve standards of health in the UK and internationally:
- Ethics provides advice and guidance to doctors and they campaign on human rights and lobby government departments.
- International provides advice and guidance to doctors from all over the world; both members and non-members, from refugee doctors to doctors working in Iraq.
- Science and Education promotes the professional arm of the BMA and is involved in research, policy development, information resources and lobbying.
- The Library provides a service of videos, books and journals to members.
- The Conference Unit organises events of a medical and medico-political nature on behalf of the BMA.
- Doctors for Doctors is a 24 hour counselling line and supports doctors with a range of problems.
Regional Services
Are the trade union side of the organisation and there are five regional services centres placed around the country and the advisers provide advice on contracts of employment, terms of services, unfair dismissal, discrimination, etc and representation at employment tribunals.
Communications
- Press Office is involved with press comments, press releases, radio and TV interviews, press conferences, letters and providing media training for doctors.
- Public Information deal with enquiries from the public.
- Parliamentary Unit has established the BMA as the most influential professional body in Parliament on health matters. They influence politicians’ views on health related issues, increase contact between BMA members and MPs and they promote and defend doctors’ interests in Parliament in support of BMA policy.
- BMA News is the weekly publication sent out to all BMA members.
- Web Team is responsible for maintaining and developing the BMA website and other associated online services for members and the BMA intranet for staff.
National Offices
We have National Offices in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh which are made up of the same elements as BMA House on a smaller scale.
Support Services
Human Resources, Learning and Development and Payroll
Finance
Information Management and Technology
You may also be interested to read more on the Association's work on our About us pages