Do you want to influence the BMA and have a say on how your profession is run? If you haven’t participated in BMA work before, the committee visitors scheme is a chance to experience what it’s like to serve on a committee and contribute to the future of the profession.
You can take part as a non-voting committee member, with the opportunity to attend meetings and join discussions.
Taking part in the scheme encouraged me to nominate myself as the committee's UCL representative, and I was successful. The scheme is a great way to try out the committee system, to see if it is something you would like to be part of.
Committee member
Participating committees
The scheme is currently available for BMA committees including:
- consultants committee
- GPs committee
- junior doctors committee
- medical students committee
- medical academic staff committee
- medical ethics committee
- public health medicine committee
- SAS doctors committee
- retired members committee
- Northern Ireland council
- Welsh council
- Scottish council.
Remote participation is available via videoconference or teleconference.
I am a local medical committee chair, but I wanted to see the national interface, and the wider picture – how, as doctors, we can influence national policy. I also thought it would be good for my personal development; in particular, I wanted to develop my chairing skills.
GP Sally Johnston visited the GPs committee
Eligibility and guidelines
If applying for a seat on a branch of practice committee, you must be affiliated with that branch.
To be eligible, you must not have previously:
- had a place on the committee you are applying to attend, or
- participated in the BMA committee visitors scheme.
Seats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, but preference is given to members who have never sat on a BMA committee.
If the committee you are applying to is full, you will be put on a waiting list.
When taking part in this scheme, you are not representing the committee or the BMA. A non-voting visitor seat has no formal designation, so when speaking on issues, you should not identify as a BMA representative (eg 'I am Dr McCoy, a BMA visiting member of the consultants committee'). You will speak in a personal capacity and should explicitly ask not to be identified as a BMA representative.
Expenses including travel, accommodation and childcare are allowed, but honoraria is not included.
How to apply
Download the application form, then send your completed form by email to [email protected].
If you have any questions about the scheme, please email the team or call 020 7383 6040.