Sessional GPs committee

The sessional GPs committee is part of the GPC (GPs committee). We provide national representation for all salaried and locum GPs.

Location: UK
Updated: Thursday 14 November 2024
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Sessional GPs newsletter

For news, opinion and updates from the sessional GPs committee, read the latest newsletter.

​The sessional GPs committee is part of the BMA's GPC (general practitioners committee). We provide national representation for all salaried and locum GPs.

Members come from a range of backgrounds and careers and draw on their knowledge and experience to speak up and fight for a fairer deal for sessional GPs.

 

Our priorities

We endeavour to:

  • consider all matters of interest for salaried and locum GPs
  • lead on all GPC issues that primarily affect sessional GPs
  • respond to relevant consultations affecting sessional GPs
  • work with other subcommittees as and when required on the development of policy and the production of guidance.

 

Our vision

Our people

Chair: Mark Steggles

Deputy chair: Krishan Aggarwal

Members

East Midlands
Kalindi Krishna Tumurugoti

East of England
Mark Steggles

London
Krishan Aggarwal

North East
Rachel McMahon

North West
Mark Coley

Northern Ireland
Craig Wylie

Scotland
Jennifer MacDonald

South West
L-J (Laura-Jane) Evans

South East Coast
Sarah Westerbeek

South Central
Samar Bhutoria

Wales
Bethan Roberts

West Midlands
Alicia Barnes

Yorkshire and Humber
Amy Small 

UK representatives
Samuel Parker, David Mummery and Veno Suri

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Our meetings

The sessional GPs committee meets four times a year to discuss the issues that affect all salaried and locum GPs. These meetings are open to committee members only, but non-members can apply for the BMA committee visitors scheme.

Committee meetings:

  • Wednesday 17 July 2024 (hybrid)
  • Monday 21 October 2024 (virtual)
  • Friday 14 March 2025 (hybrid)
  • Wednesday 11 June2025 (virtual)

All meetings take place from 10am to 4pm either virtually or at:

BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP

For more information, email [email protected].

 

Conference 2024

The 2024 Conference for Sessional GPs was held on 20 September at BMA House and online. 

Morning

  • Sessional GP vision/manifesto + Q&A
    Dr Mark Steggles and Dr Bethan Roberts, sessional GP committee chair and executive member.

  • [37:50] Future models of General Practice: potential of a salaried service vs. ICD model + Q&A Prof Azeem Majeed and Claire Bannon.

  • [1:15:45] ARRS/PAs: establishing new professional partnerships with new clinical roles + Q&A Dr Veno Suri.

  • Watch the morning session.

 

Afternoon

  • Local representation in the four nations + Q&A
    Dr Patricia Moultrie and Dr Bethan Roberts.

  • [35:00] Soapbox/committee panel
    Sessional GP committee executive.

  • Watch the afternoon session.

 

How to join

There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills. 

Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of sessional GPs committee, this is: 

Regional elections
  • Seats/term - every three years, elections for one sessional GPs representative (with at least two salaried GPs and two freelance/locum GPs*) from each of the 13 UK regions, including Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, take place for a three-session term. 
  • Timeline - elections are usually held in March or April.
  • Eligibility - all sessional GPs who are BMA members in the UK are eligible to stand in this election. All GPs can vote in this election. 

*Salaried or freelance/locum GPs will be eligible if, for the six months before the election, their NHS general practice performer's work has been solely as a salaried and/or freelance GP (excluding work as a GP appraiser) or a GP trainee, and an average of at least seven hours per week of NHS general practice work has been undertaken for that period.

The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.

  

Elections

Elections for the Sessional GPs committee are now closed.

 

Get in touch

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the sessional GPs committee, please contact [email protected].

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