National BAME member forum

BAME member forum launch event

The BMA launched its first national BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) member forum on 26 January 2021.

The forum aims to unify and empower the voices of our BAME members and influence positive change in the pursuit of race equality, in our association and across the NHS.

The event was chaired by BMA council chair Chaand Nagpaul, with fantastic talks from Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Doyin Atewologun and Roger Kline.

A recording of the launch event can be found below.

Background

The national BAME member forum has been created in response to calls from our members for greater support for doctors and medical students from BAME backgrounds, both at the BMA and in the wider medical workforce.

We have a long history of campaigning for race equality in the medical profession and have actively responded to the disadvantage and discrimination experienced by those from BAME backgrounds.

We have called for ending racial harassment in our NHS, which is experienced from the outset of a career in medicine, through our charter against racial harassment in medical schools. Chaand Nagpaul, Chair of council, called on the government in early April 2020 to act on the damaging and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 upon BAME NHS staff, key workers and communities, and we have continued to robustly lobby to protect our ethnic minority members from harm.

However, we know there is even more we can do to unify the voices of our BAME members and influence positive change in the pursuit of race equality in our association and across the NHS.

Purpose and remit of the forum

This national forum, which is supported by regional BAME member networks, seeks to:

• explore and highlight relevant issues and experiences faced by BAME doctors and medical students in their places of work and study
• act as a consultative forum, by contributing to the BMA’s policy work for members and the wider medical workforce to ensure the BAME perspective is included
• act as representatives and advocates for the BMA’s work on improving race equality in medicine
• review and provide guidance on BMA products and services (such as employment advice) which support BAME members
• influence and support external stakeholders to improve support for BAME and IMG (international medical graduates) doctors and students
• raise the profile of the contribution of BAME doctors to the NHS and the BMA
• support the BMA’s efforts to build ethnic diversity in its membership and elected structures
• help to connect and network with grassroot members, bringing their lived experiences, knowledge, and diverse ideas to the forum and to the wider BMA.

Who can join

The national BAME member forum is made up of elected representatives from the UK branch of practice committees, UK council, representatives from the devolved nations and regional BAME member networks to ensure that we hear from our members across all parts of the BMA about the issues that face them in their places of work and study.

Join your regional BAME network

Join your regional BAME member network and help us to drive positive change for BAME doctors.

The networks offer a space for BAME BMA members to network and support each other, raise issues that affect BAME doctors and medical students, and influence how they can be better supported, and to influence the BMA’s national policy and campaigning on these issues. It will also contribute to the BMA’s commitment to improve and better tailor our member services support to BAME members.

If you would be interested in joining your regional BAME member network, please email your regional coordinator using the details found below:

BMA Cymru Wales BAME forum

Find out more about the forum in Wales and how you can get involved.

The forum will elect two members to the UK BAME member forum on an annual basis, in order to represent the views of members in Wales.

BMA Scotland BAME member network

If you wish to find out more about getting involved in the BMA Scotland BAME member network, please email Catherine Johnston.

Contact us

Should you have any further queries about the national BAME member forum, please email us.