NHS delivery and workforce

We urge doctors to find out more about how changes to the NHS may impact the ways in which you work, and what the BMA is doing to influence those changes.
NHS Structure Article Illustration
BMA COVID-19 reports
BMA COVID-19 reports

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

View our COVID-19 reports

Workforce

Effective working with medical associate professions

We outline principles that can help improve the ways that doctors and medical associate professions work together and identify possible solutions.

Medical associate professions briefing

This briefing covers the increasing presence of MAPs (medical associate professions) in the NHS, their regulation, prescribing rights and the BMA’s view on the these developments.

New clinical roles in the NHS

A broad guide to some of the newer clinical roles that have been introduced to the NHS as part of new models of service delivery or to ease workload pressures.

Enhancing junior doctors' working lives

We highlight the improvements being made in Health Education England's Enhancing Junior Doctors' Working Lives progress report.

Mental health workforce report

Our report shows the declining state of the mental health workforce, the workforce's wellbeing and data on workforce numbers.

Disability in the medical profession

Our report outlines steps needed to improve support for doctors and medical students with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

Challenging the culture on menopause for working doctors report

We surveyed our members to understand specific challenges for doctors working through the menopause. This report looks at the experiences of doctors and areas of action which could support doctors during this time.

BMA commentary on the NHS People Plan 2020/21

We summarise the commitments made in the NHS People Plan with a focus on those most relevant to BMA members. We also give commentary and analysis on each section of the plan.

Consultant workforce shortages

Our reports look into the issues facing the consultant workforce and what actions need to be taken by UK governments and employers, now and in the future, to ensure consultants are retained in the NHS.

Creating a healthy workplace

Fatigue and sleep deprivation

Find out about the BMA Fatigue and Facilities charter, the impact of fatigue on doctors and patients, and the factors increasing the risk of fatigue. You can also read guidance aimed at doctors and other clinical staff on how to manage the risks associated with fatigue.

Alcohol and drug dependency in the workplace: a guide for medical professionals

Our report aims to provide practical advice to medical professionals, employers and employees to help understand and deal with the effects of alcohol and illicit drugs at work.

Supporting health and wellbeing at work report

A report looking into doctors' experiences with occupational support services. Focusing on the issues that doctors face and challenges confronting the wider NHS workforce.

​Staff screening and treatment after infection outbreaks

Screening of healthcare workers as part of managing an infection outbreak may occasionally be advised by an OCT (outbreak control team). Our guidance summarises the ethical principles and legal framework that apply.

Domestic abuse in the health profession report

Doctors may experience domestic abuse themselves - our report looks at why this is a workplace issue, support that should be provided, and barriers to doctors accessing support.

Preventing and reducing violence against staff

NHS staff should be adequately protected and assault should never be considered as part of the job. This is particularly vital in an environment where workloads and waiting times in the NHS are rising, and staff are under greater pressure, leading to the risk that patients are more likely to take out their frustration on those providing a public service.

Mental health of doctors and medical students

Improving the mental wellbeing of doctors and medical students

Read about our work to improve the mental health of the profession, including during and beyond coronavirus, new research and our wellbeing charter.

Mental health report of medical students in Wales

The Welsh medical students committee conducted a mental health survey of medical students in Wales to learn about mental health at university. Read the findings.

The ageing workforce

​Ageing and the workplace: caring for people of working age

An overview of the impact of ageing populations discussing the common myths and stereotypes associated with older workers, information about their health and safety needs, and recommended employment practices.

Supporting an ageing medical workforce

A report into the unique pressures facing older doctors to identify how best the NHS can support its ageing workforce.

Integration

Sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs)

STPs - what they are, what they mean for doctors, what's currently happening and a briefing on if STPs can survive without proper funding.

Integrated care systems (ICSs)

We delve into integrate care systems, the impact they have on doctors and what you can do locally to help shape them.

Integrated care provider contracts (ICPs)

What ICPs are, contracts, what the BMA thinks of ICPs and their impact on GPs.

Medical engagement - doctors' contributions to change

Engagement with medical, clinical and wider staff within the NHS is poor. Read our report and recommendations on improving engagement.

Commissioning

CCG mergers

How CCG mergers are taking place, why and when they are happening, as well as the BMA’s position.

Personal health budgets

This guidance supports doctors working in all parts of health and social care to understand the implications of PHBs (personal health budgets) for their own practice.

Competition law and the NHS

Competition between providers has been a major focus of health policy in the English NHS since the early 2000s - read more about the Acts upholding the law.

CCG constitutions

This guidance details the important implications of CCG constitutions for GPs and practices and provides practical advice.

Independent sector providers in the NHS

This is our latest report on privatisation and independent sector provision in the NHS in England.

Pressures

Pressure points in the NHS

Analysis of monthly data releases by NHS England to highlight the huge pressures being placed on an over-burdened healthcare system.

Bed occupancy in the NHS

This report highlights the use of extra escalation beds in the NHS outside of winter. Read more about our recommendation to increase core bed stock across the NHS.

Pressures in general practice

We monitor data on appointment numbers, patient experience, workforce data and practice closures to help build a picture of the level of strain GP practices in England are under.

Report on increasing urgent care use in the NHS

We commissioned a report to identify patient and staff perspectives on the reasons for attendances at emergency departments

Saving general practice report

The BMA’s case to save the general practice crisis - we lay out the areas that need to be addressed, such as workforce strategy, underfunding and workload pressures.

Primary and secondary care

NHS e-referral service for secondary care doctors

Read our considerations for doctors in secondary care to take into account when implementing e-RS.

Primary and secondary care working together

The BMA is working with NHS England and other organisations to help improve the interface between primary and secondary care.

Acting upon electronic test results

Explaining doctors' clinical responsibility when you or others are acting upon test results, including receiving results from other clinicians, hospital teams and patient generated data.

The future

Caring, supportive, collaborative: a future vision for the NHS

The BMA project to open an honest conversation with our profession about the sort of NHS doctors want to work in, including information on our race equality summit.

The role of the doctor in the future

A BMA project looking at how the doctor's role is evolving, including report and video of discussions.

Analysis of the NHS Long Term Plan

This briefing for members provides a summary of the announcements in the long-term plan and what they may mean for doctors.

Funding

Budget 2021: what you need to know

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his budget to Parliament on 3 March. Our briefing covers the need to know aspects for doctors and the NHS and our analysis.

Models for paying providers of NHS services

To help you understand the different ways in which providers can be paid for seeing and treating patients, including block contracts, capitation, the national tariff and payment for performance.

Investment in general practice

Details of the investment in general practice, comparison to previous years and how it matches to the BMA's target of a minimum of 11% of the NHS budget.

BMA position on health spend

We assess the NHS funding settlement - is it enough and how should it be spent?

Social care

Social care in Scotland

We look at the structure of social care in Scotland, who it's for, how it's funded, issues, pressures on the workforce and the BMA's view.

Social care in Wales

We look at the structure of social care in Wales, who it's for, how it's funded, issues, pressures on the workforce and the BMA's view.

Social care in Northern Ireland

We look at the structure of social care in Northern Ireland, who it's for, how it's funded, issues, pressures on the workforce and the BMA's view.

Social care in England

We outline our calls to action for social care in England, including the need for increased funding, to make social care free for all and investment in the workforce.

Technology

NHS technology, infrastructure and data report

Our vision and recommendations for improving IT infrastructure in the NHS.