The BMA at its Annual Representative meeting (ARM) in Brighton today passed a motion¹ calling on the Government to protect public health consultants whose roles may be at risk.

BMA public health medicine committee chair Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, said: 

"Public health consultants are vital to the work of improving the health of local communities, protecting the health of the population as a whole and planning and designing health services. Any reduction in their number risks undermining this essential work, with consequences for patients and the public and for the ability of the NHS to meet the demands placed on it.

"As the Government proceeds with the abolition of NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care must learn the lessons of previous system reorganisations and ensure that crucial expertise is retained and Public Health remains an attractive career option for doctors.  This includes making sure that the Public Health speciality has the capacity to teach and train future generations of specialists and consultants. 

"The BMA will continue to press the Department of Health and Social Care to protect public health consultants whose roles may be at risk and to ensure parity of pay, terms and conditions for all public health consultants with their NHS counterparts."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The motion as passed reads:

Motion by PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE CONFERENCE: That this meeting recognises the value of consultants in public health working at national and regional levels of DHSC and NHS England. This meeting is, therefore, concerned that the abolition of NHS England has not learnt the lessons of the abolition of Public Health England and risks a further significant reduction in national specialist public health consultants and in the capacity to support effective policy development and the work of the Chief Medical Officer and the Secretary of State. This meeting, therefore, calls on BMA Council and the public health medicine committee to:

i), request publication of the Department of Health and Social Care lessons learnt report following the PHE merger and for clarification on how these have changed the approach for the NHSE abolition;

ii), write to the Department and NHSE Joint Executive Team to request formal commitment to no further reduction in public health consultant capacity within DHSC and NHS England through this merger process;

iii), ensure parity in terms and conditions with medical consultants is retained, with recognition of parity as SCS (senior civil servant) and ESM (executive senior manager) grading within regional and national hierarchies in order to ensure their senior specialist advice and skills are recognised and utilised effectively to improve the health of our nation.

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.

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