NISASC (the Northern Ireland Specialists, Associate Specialists and Specialty Doctors Committee) is a standing committee of the BMA, representing all SAS doctors working in Northern Ireland. Its remit is to consider and act on matters affecting SAS doctors, including contractual matters.
Some of the external groups and bodies we liaise with on behalf of SAS doctors in Northern Ireland include the:
- General Medical Council
- DoH (Department of Health)
- HSC NI trusts
- NIMDTA
- Political Parties
Our priorities
- Work with key stakeholders to ensure continued transition to the 2021 specialty doctor and specialist contracts
- Engage with key stakeholders to continue implementation of the NISAS charter.
- Take forward issues relating to pay and terms and conditions of service
- Represent SAS doctors in Northern Ireland to ensure their voices are heard.
We also promote the policies of the UK SAS doctors committee:
Pay offer for SAS doctors in Northern Ireland
After negotiations with the Department of Health and a member referendum in late 2024, we accepted a pay offer for SAS doctors, resolving the ongoing pay dispute. Read the full pay offer.
SAS charter
The Northern Ireland SAS charter sets out the responsibilities of SAS doctors and their employers, providing a commitment to support and enable SAS doctors to realise their potential to deliver the best patient care and contribute fully to health services. It was developed by NISASC in collaboration with the DoH (Department of Health) in Northern Ireland and the HSC Trusts to help advance the careers of those working in this grade.
The charter recognises the pivotal role SAS doctors hold in the delivery of high-quality care and the significant contribution they make not only to patient care, but in leadership, education, research and governance. SAS doctors bring experiences and specialist care, possess individual and often highly specialised skills, and undertake broader roles through activities such as teaching and audit.
We continue to work in partnership with Trusts and DoH NI to ensure that the charter is implemented throughout Trusts for the benefit of SAS doctors and patients.
If you have any questions in relation to the NI SAS charter, please email us.
SAS career development
NISASC is committed to developing the role of SAS doctors as a valued and integral part of the medical workforce in Northern Ireland.
Since 2015 we have focused on the SAS Career Development Proposal to help improve opportunities for training and development, information sharing and educational networking.
With the appointment of SAS Leads in each Trust, an Associate Dean for SAS, the establishment of a robust infrastructure for SAS training and development under the umbrella of the NI Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) and the continued transition from 2008 contract to the 2021 contracts for Specialists and Specialty Doctors, the recommendations contained within the SAS Development Proposal have come to fruition.
We will continue to work with key stakeholders to ensure SAS doctors receive effective development, which will benefit patient safety and employers as well as the individual doctors.
Our people
Chair: Dr Leanne Davison, Belfast Trust
Deputy co-chairs:
Dr Clodagh Corrigan, Southern Trust (SAS education, training and development and SAS charter implementation).
Dr Siobhan Quinn, Belfast Trust (SAS negotiations and terms and conditions).
Executive subcommittee
NISASC has an executive subcommittee which co-ordinates its strategic approach to policy issues, acts as a core negotiating body for the SASC in Northern Ireland and is another link between NISASC and the Northern Ireland LNC forum. It also considers and, where appropriate, acts upon urgent matters referred to it between meetings of the NISASC.
Belfast Trust
Dr Julie Craig
Dr Ramy Waly
Northern Trust
Dr Rebecca Rainey
Mr Haussam Elenin
South Eastern Trust
Dr Joanne Younge
Vacant seat
Southern Trust
Dr Mark John Feenan
Western Trust
Dr Stephanie Warne
Dr Deepanshu Gupta
BDA representative
Dr Neil Markey
Our meetings
We hold four meetings a year to discuss the latest issues affecting SAS doctors in Northern Ireland. Only committee members may participate in votes on NISASC business, but SAS doctors who are BMA members are welcome to attend in a non-voting capacity as part of the BMA committee visitor scheme.
Meeting dates for the 2025/26 session:
- Tuesday, 9 September 2025 - online - Hybrid
- Thursday, 11 December 2025 – Hybrid, The Assembly Rooms, Belfast.
- Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - online
- Thursday, 28 May 2026 – Hybrid – The Assembly Rooms, Belfast.
All meetings will commence at 2pm.
For more information email us or call 028 9026 9658.
How to join
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of NISASC, this is:
- Seats/term – every three years, elections for 12 seats on NISASC take place for a three-session term.
- Timeline - elections are usually held in July or August.
- Eligibility - all SAS doctors who are BMA members and working in a Northern Ireland health and social care trust are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
Elections to the Northern Ireland staff, associate specialist and specialty doctors committee are now closed. The next elections will take place in May 2026.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the NISASC or want to tell us what our priorities should be, email us.
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