The new chair of the BMA in Scotland has said she wants doctors and medical students to ‘finish the day proud’ they’ve been able to do the best they can for patients.

Nóra Murray-Cavanagh (pictured above) said she was an optimist, who wanted to build on a sense of unity and momentum among doctors to overcome the many challenges facing the profession.

Dr Murray-Cavanagh, a GP in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, and the first woman to hold the post of BMA Scottish council chair since the 1960s, said she was honoured and excited.

‘Across Scotland, doctors and medical students are facing significant pressures, but we've also seen what can be achieved when we come together around a shared purpose. That sense of unity and momentum is something I want to build on during my time as chair.’

Medical concerns

She said the hardest parts of doctors’ jobs should be complexity of clinical care, the trauma, both physical and psychological, that patients carry and the emotional demands on doctors caring for them, rather than worries about job security, pay, training opportunities, childcare, or organisational barriers.

‘These challenges are not inevitable. I'm an optimist by nature, and I believe that when we work together across the profession, and alongside governments and other partners, we can create careers in medicine that people are able to flourish and thrive in, not simply endure. And this is equally good news for patients. If we're serious about tackling Scotland's deep-rooted health inequalities, we need doctors who are supported, valued and able to work to the full extent of their skills and abilities.’

On being the first woman to take up the role in more than 60 years, Dr Murray-Cavanagh said, while she was proud of the significance of the milestone, she saw it as part of a wider story about representation and inclusion.

‘Diverse leadership makes organisations stronger. It broadens perspectives, improves decision-making and helps people feel that they belong and can see themselves in leadership roles.’

She paid tribute to her predecessor, Iain Kennedy, who hands over the baton next week.

‘His deep belief in the NHS, and his willingness to speak honestly about the challenges we face, have been evident throughout his leadership, and I am grateful for all he has contributed to BMA Scotland,’ she said.