BMA Scotland has today announced Dr Joanna Bredski is the new chair of the Scottish consultants committee (SCC).
Taking up the role, Dr Bredski has urged the Scottish Government to do more to support senior doctors and tackle burnout warning that failure to act “will only mean the inexorable increase in waiting lists we see today”.
She has been elected to the role after Dr Alan Robertson stepped down at the end of his three year term of office. She has been a member of SCC for six years and a deputy chair for the past three years.
Dr Bredski, who is a consultant psychiatrist based in the Borders, will be joined by two new deputy chairs, Dr Arnab Rana and Dr Tamasin Knight.
Speaking as she takes up the role of SCC chair, she said: “I know what it’s like to feel the impact of consultant vacancies 1, rota gaps and extreme workplace pressures.
“Doctors go into medicine to serve and we expect to work hard. In return for our service we rightly expect to be valued and recognised by our organisations. Although there’s a lot more to it, this recognition does include fair pay, fair pensions and a safe workload.
“However, many of us experience workloads that lead us to neglect the other parts of our lives. Many of us burn brightly - and then burn out. We must not tolerate burnout being inevitable for ourselves, our colleagues or for the consultants of the future. We need the Scottish Government to do more to support us, to retain more consultants and finally tackle the stubborn vacancies we see across the system. Failure to act will only mean the inexorable increase in waiting lists we see today and more patients forced to dip into their own pockets to go private.”
Dr Bredksi went on: “I was very proud to be part of the team that negotiated last year’s successful pay deal. It was a significant achievement and a much-needed step towards restoring our pay to where it should be, to address years of pay erosion while working in a failing system which has made our jobs so much harder. It has not, unfortunately, been matched this year 2.
“Although there have been meetings and dialogue between the Committee and the Scottish Government, there have not been meaningful or productive pay talks. There is no doubt this risks a serious negative impact on the morale and crucially retention of doctors in Scotland. Given the progress made last year, it is of course hugely frustrating we haven’t been able to build on it. We will decide our next steps shortly following discussion and decisions by the committee. Our clear focus throughout will be supporting our members to deliver the care our patients need, given the huge pressures on them and the NHS.”
Notes to editors
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.
1 For more information on consultant vacancies - ‘Alarmingly little progress’ being made on consultant vacancies in under-pressure NHS, doctors warn
2 The Scottish Government has implemented the 4% pay rise recommended by the DDRB for 2025 for consultants, which BMA Scotland has described as “deeply disappointing” for doctors.