Reference enquiry service
30 October 2006
- Clinical enquiries
- Medical politics
- Bibliographical enquiries
- Statistical enquiries
- Contact information
- Historical and biographical enquiries
A printed library guide is available in the library or can be posted on request. BMA members should contact the Reader Services librarian or duty librarian if they have reference enquiries:
Richard Jones
Reader Services Librarian
BMA Library
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
tel: 020 7383 6614 or 7383 6060
fax: 020 7388 2544
or email here to: rjones@bma.org.uk
The BMA library is a private library and, unfortunately, extensive research cannot be undertaken for non-members. If, however, you have a short enquiry then use our Ask Us a Question form here.
The BMA Public health care information service also maintain an extensive section of guidance and links:
Go here to look at the Public health care information service internet pages - www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Hubpublichealthcareinformation
The library has a good general collection of standard reference and bibliographical materials. An indication of the range of enquiries which can be dealt with is given below.
Clinical enquiries
The library maintains a current clinical collection of both undergraduate and postgraduate materials. About two thousand new books are added to the collection each year. Search the BMA Library's online catalogue here
Suggestions for new acquisitions of current materials are welcome and should be made by contacting Richard Jones: email him here at rjones@bma.org.uk. Library reference staff will attempt to provide information on any aspect of clinical medicine. Reference materials relating to syndromes, eponyms, abbreviations, and symptoms are also available.
Medical politics
Copies of major reports by government departments, royal colleges or other medical societies are acquired by the library for loan to members. The library has a good historical collection of twentieth century medical reports. Acquisition of these materials has to be selective but members are encouraged to make recommendations for purchase.
The library has a strong collection in medical ethics, informatics, and clinical audit. There is also a good book collection in the organisation of primary health care and health services in different countries.
Bibliographical enquiries
Several reference resources are kept in the library which can be used to find out about books or to check bibliographic information.
You can find more information about bibliographical resources in our bibliographical information factsheet - see it here.
Statistical enquiries
Reports from the Office of National Statistics and its predecessor, the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys, are kept in the main reading room. These can be used to obtain statistics on the incidence, mortality, or hospital treatment of a disease One key resource which gives information on the socio-economic aspects of the incidence of diseases among different group is:
Morbidity statistics from general practice: fourth national study 1991-1992
HMSO, 1995
BMA location: 1-2
International statistics can also be obtained from the World Health Organization's World Health Statistics Annual, and a new series on The Global Impact of Disease.
You can find more information about statistical resources in our statistics factsheet - see it here.
Contact information
Several resources can be used to find addresses and other contact information for UK doctors (see factsheet - biographical information). Library staff have network access to the Electronic Medical Directory which offers several search methods but which can be used, for example, to search for all dermatologists in a particular city.
Directories of both UK and international associations are kept in the Library reference collection. Library staff can supply information on patient groups (see factsheet - patient groups and patient information).
Historical and biographical enquiries
Obituaries are one of the primary sources of biographical information. Several British medical journals have published obituaries, including The Lancet and the specialist journals, but the BMJ is the only British general medical journal still to publish regular obituaries.
You can find more information about biographical enquiries from our biographical information factsheet - see it here.
Library staff have compiled a database of obituaries from the BMJ which covers the years from 1968-1995. This can be searched by family name, forename or year of death. See the BMA library obituaries index here
The BMA Archives keep an almost complete set of the Medical Directory and Medical Register. They can undertake research for enquirers or access to the volumes can be made by arrangement.
BMA Archives
tel: 020 7383 6649/6648
Send and email here bmaarchive@bma.org.uk here