Scottish council

Our priorities

Ensure that doctors are valued

General practice and hospital services in Scotland are both desperately short of doctors. We need to be able to fill vacancies so that we can look after our patients properly while taking care of our own health. That means attracting doctors to Scotland and keeping them here by making it a good and rewarding place to train and work. We are pursuing improvements in terms and conditions of service and in addressing the pension issues affecting many doctors.

Provide high quality individual support and promote a positive workplace culture

Bullying and harassment is far too widespread in our NHS. BMA Scotland has a key role in finding solutions so our doctors can focus 100 per cent on the task at hand. Our project 'Promoting Positive Workplace Cultures' is at the heart of BMA Scotland’s priorities.

Be the voice of doctors in influencing the future of health and healthcare in Scotland

Our members have an important insight into how to improve public health and the sustainability of health services in Scotland. We are marshalling this intelligence and using it to influence through media and lobbying with constructive proposals for change. We are also calling for the public to be consulted on what they need from the health service and be told honestly how much it will cost.

Increase visibility and responsiveness of the BMA in Scotland

We are increasing the number of people working locally across Scotland, in hospitals and in members' workplaces, to hear directly what members want from the BMA so we can respond appropriately. We are developing new products and services to make sure members get maximum value for their membership.

Our people

The Scottish council ensures the voices of the medical profession in Scotland are heard. There are 35 voting members of the council, elected for a three-year term of office. 

Chair: Dr Lewis Morrison

Deputy chairs:
Dr Sue Robertson
Dr Nikki Thompson

Our meetings

Scottish council meets three times a year. Meetings are open to council members only but non-members are welcome to attend by taking part in our committee visitors scheme.

Dates for the 2019-20 session:

• Thursday 28 November 2019
• Wednesday 25 March 2020

All meetings take place at:

BMA Scotland
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL

Our terms of reference

BMA Scottish council is a standing committee of the BMA and has full delegated authority to consider any and all matters of specific relevance to the medical profession and healthcare in Scotland. Scottish council determines policy and action where the application is exclusive to Scotland.

Scottish council meets three times a year (in Edinburgh) and an executive committee deals with matters between meetings.

There are 35 voting members of Scottish Council, elected for a three-year term of office.

• Eight members engaged wholly or mainly in general practice, including those in private general practice but excluding general practice registrars, to represent and be elected by members in general practice in Scotland of whom: two for East, four for West, two for North.
• Eight members employed wholly or mainly as senior hospital doctors to represent and be elected by members who are senior hospital doctors in Scotland of whom: two for East, four for West, two for North.
• Eight members who are hospital doctors in the training grades or general practice registrars to represent and be elected by members who are hospital doctors in the training grades and general practice registrars in Scotland of whom: two for East, four for West, two for North.
• One member employed wholly or mainly in the staff and associate specialist group elected by members from those groups in Scotland.
• One member employed full-time in a university or in medical research, elected by members from those groups in Scotland.
• One medical student member elected by all medical student members in Scotland.
• One retired member elected by retired members in Scotland.
• One member from other branches of practice not represented, elected by those groups in Scotland (eg civil service and armed forces, occupational health).
• Six members resident in Scotland to represent and be elected by all members in Scotland.

Note

East covers: Fife, Lothian, and Scottish Borders.

West covers: Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Stewartry, Dumbarton, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Wigtown.

North covers: Angus, Caithness, Dundee, Grampian, Inverness, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Ross and Cromarty, Shetland, Sutherland and Western Isles.

Non-voting members

Non-voting members are the chief officers of the association; the chairs of the SCC, SGPC, SJDC, SMASC, SSASC and SMSC; chair of Scottish LNC forum,  those members of Scottish council who are also members of UK council and the immediate past chair of Scottish council for a period of one year after demitting office as chair. The chair of the Academy of Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland is also a non-voting member.

Scottish council has the power to co-opt two additional non-voting members where specific expertise is required.

Elections

The Scottish Council elections have reached the final stage of the election process.

If you are a BMA member based in Scotland employed wholly or mainly in the training grades, including GP registrars now is your chance to vote for your representatives on Scottish council for sessions 2020-2023.

Find out more about the election and vote now.

Get in touch

We are happy to answer any questions, give advice, or help on any matter related to Scottish council.

Write to:
Scottish council secretariat
BMA Scotland
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL

Telephone: 0131 2473010
Email: Fiona Dawson ([email protected])