The BMA’s 2025 public health medicine conference will take place on Monday 17 March 2025. (Registration opens at 09.00am and teach-in from 9.15am). The conference is the BMA’s policy forum for public health doctors. This year’s theme is “Political economies of health” with a particular focus on the future. Read our blog about the conference theme. You don’t need to be a BMA member to attend.  

The conference will be a hybrid event to maximise the opportunities to participate. Whilst attendance may be in-person at BMA House, or virtually by MS Teams, the agenda committee is keen that those attending as voting representatives attend in person if they are able. There are more details below on what the BMA can do to help you to attend. Please indicate on the booking form how you will be taking part in the event. 

Why should you attend?

The conference is the BMA’s forum for public health doctors from across the UK.  It provides opportunities for you to hear from leaders of the public health community; debate and discuss the issues of concern to you; and network and share experiences. Through the debate and votes on motions sent in by representatives, conference sets the policy and negotiating priorities for the BMA public health medicine committee for the coming year. It also receives a report on the work undertaken on the previous year’s conference motions.

The aim is to enable high levels of participation throughout the day.  

This year’s conference will include:

• Keynote speeches on the theme of the conference.
• Formal welcome and introduction from a chief officer of the BMA.
• Reports from the chair of the public health medicine committee (PHMC) and the chair of the registrars subcommittee on their work during the last year with the opportunity to hold them to account on that work.
• Report of the work of the Faculty of Public Health.
• Debate of motions sent in by you, giving you the chance to decide which issues are important and to influence the work of the BMA in the coming year.
• Breakout sessions to support career development for registrars; consultant job planning; portfolio careers and deep dives into specific aspects of the economy and health.
• An introduction to local organisation and representation from BMA member relations.
• Opportunities to raise and discuss general issues of importance with colleagues in public health and from other branches of medicine.
• Networking opportunities through-out the day for those attending in person.

There will be a teach-in for representatives between 9.15am and 9.45am and a networking reception for those attending in-person at the end of day.  

Motions for debate

There will be an opportunity for all representatives to submit motions for debate that could shape the BMA’s agenda over the coming years.  The deadline for submission of motions is 3 February 2025.  Emergency motions on issues that arise after the deadline can be submitted up to noon on Friday 14 March 2025.  The agenda committee would particularly welcome motions inspired by the theme of the conference.  Motions should be submitted by e-mail to [email protected]

Read the guidance on writing a motion.  You will also find a link to the BMA’s policy database on that page where you can search for existing conference policy by subject. The agenda committee is also hosting a drop-in workshop on how to draft and craft motions between 12.00 and 2.00pm on 27 January.  If you are interested in attending or for further advice on how to draft and submit a motion and on existing conference policy, please email the conference secretariat at [email protected]

Attending the conference

Places at the conference are now open on a first come first served basis until the relevant places are filled.

Attendance is free to BMA members as a representative or an observer.  However, observers will not be entitled to expenses. In-person attendance costs £20 for non-members and includes refreshments and a delegate pack.

If for any reason after registering you should find yourself no longer able to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so your place can be allocated to someone else.  

Helping you to attend (BMA members only)

Caring responsibilities

If you need to make special arrangements to care for children or adult dependents in order to attend, the BMA is able to meet the cost of that additional care.

Please contact Winifred Annan on [email protected] if you require further information on the childcare and adult dependent arrangements available at this event. 

Travel costs

Reasonable standard class travel expenses will be reimbursed for representatives on production of receipts. You are asked to make every effort to book advance tickets and to make use of the cheap deals that are available. If in doubt, please contact [email protected] prior to making your travel arrangements.

Accommodation costs

The cost of overnight stays will normally only be met if it is necessary for the representatives to leave home before 6.30am. Nonetheless you must gain advance approval for a claim of accommodation costs. If you require the BMA to cover the cost of your overnight accommodation or have queries about it, you must email your request in advance to [email protected]

Accommodation expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £230 per night. Delegates will be expected to cover any difference themselves.

Members: Free-of-charge
Non-members: £20 including VAT

Registering for the Conference

To register for this event, you will need to sign in using your BMA account details on the registration page. If you are not a BMA member but would like to attend the conference, please email [email protected] to register.