COVID-19: BMA actions and policy

Our policy, demands and recommendations to NHS organisations, institutions and the Government to help protect doctors, the NHS and the public during and after the pandemic.

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What the BMA is doing

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Influencing governments BMA COVID review > The BMA has launched a review into the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the NHS, organisations and staff. We must learn lessons now and the Government must take action.

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BMA briefing Living with COVID strategy > We provide an overview and analysis of the Government’s plans for living with COVID-19 in England.

You can also view our COVID-19 guidance

Our work

The below highlights our reports and briefings on specific topics during the pandemic.

You can also view the full breadth of action we have taken in this time, or view our COVID-19 guidance.

The effect on doctors

Infection protection control guidance We and the Covid Airborne Protection Alliance have written to NHSE to highlight the urgent need for their infection protection control guidance to be updated to better protect staff and patients.

Addressing the health challenge of long COVID We have explored the prevalence of long COVID in the UK population and set out what is needed to treat and support those who are affected.

Mental health and wellbeing > A look at the effect on the workforce's mental health and wellbeing and ten recommendations to protect them.

Supporting staff who are shielding to return to work > Ways for employers, arm’s-length bodies, commissioners, and training bodies to support a return to work.

Childcare for doctors > Our briefing outlines the issues doctors in England face in finding childcare provision.

COVID-19 memorial > We are passionately committed to remembering colleagues who died from COVID-19 whilst in service to their patients, during the pandemic.

The effect on NHS delivery

Tackling the elective care backlog in England > A comprehensive analysis of the targets, policies, and programmes presented in the NHS elective recovery plan, and our concerns about what is missing.

Getting UK health services back on track > Our realistic approach and recommendations to tackling the backlog of non-COVID care in the NHS.

The role of private outsourcing > Our analysis of the scale and impact of private outsourcing during the response.

Collaboration between primary and secondary care > We explore the challenges of the backlog of care built up during the pandemic, and the role of effective collaboration.

Trust GPs to lead: learning from the first wave > A set of principles addressing the need for change in general practice following the response to the first wave.

The effect on the population

Why we support a delay to ending restrictions > Our data and rational for why we call for a delay in easing lockdown restrictions in England on 21 June.

Mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on health inequalities > Recommendations to mitigating the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on existing health inequalities.

Taking a cautious approach to easing restrictions > Measures to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed by another wave of COVID-19 and enable safe and sustained reopening of society in 2021.

Homelessness report > We address homelessness and protecting those who have been impacted as a direct result of COVID-19.

Face coverings infographic > This infographic covers mask wearing best practice for the public - including use of cotton or surgical masks and visors.

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