The Scottish council ensures the voices of the medical profession in Scotland are heard.
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
Chair: Dr Lewis Morrison
Deputy chairs:
Patricia Moultrie
Bernie Scott
Representatives for GPs:
Angela Dixon
Iain Kennedy
Andrew Cowie
John Ip
Laura McBrearty
Patricia Moultrie
Nora Murray-Cavanagh
Vacant
Representatives for consultants:
Ewan Olson
Carol Macmillan
Christopher Barrett
Richard Levin
Zahid Mahmood
Jacqui McMillan
Simon Barker
Sajid Farid
Representatives for junior doctors:
Kanastana Yasotharan
Alisdair Gilmore
Zack Hassan
Timothy Gray
Lailah Peel
John Patrick Kelly
Neil Jordan Ramsay
Rob Sykes
Representative for medical students:
Callum D George
Representative for retired members:
Philip Cachia
Representative for SAS doctors:
Thisara Weerasuriya
Representative for other branches of practice:
Charles Saunders
National seats:
Mary Anne Burrow
Graeme Eunson
Alan Robertson
Amy Small
Peter Terry
Vacant
Our meetings
Scottish council meets three times a year (in Edinburgh) and an executive committee deals with matters between meetings.
Meetings are open to council members only but non-members are welcome to attend by taking part in our committee visitors scheme.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 6 October 2021
- Wednesday 19 January 2022
- Wednesday 23 March 2022
All meetings are either virtual or take place at:
BMA Scotland
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL
Our terms of reference
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.
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 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.
How to join the Scottish council
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 Scottish council, these are:
- Seats/term - every three years, elections for 35 seats on the Scottish council take place for a three-session term.
- Timeline - elections are usually held prior the start of the session.
- Eligibility - all BMA members who work and live in Scotland and meet the criteria detailed in the terms of reference (above) are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
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
Scottish council by-election 2021 to 2023
The Scottish council is holding by-elections for a two-session term for the following seats:
- 1 representative of all members in Scotland. This is open to all BMA members resident in Scotland, no matter the grade
- 1 representative for general practitioners in the West of Scotland*. This is open to all BMA members who practice wholly or mainly in general practice in this region, including those in private general practice but excluding GP registrars
- 1 representative for junior doctors in the West of Scotland. This is open to all BMA members in training grades, including GP registrars, in this region.
*West of Scotland area covers the following BMA divisions: Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire & Arran, Dumfries & Stewarty, Dumbarton, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire & Wigtown.
Eligibility
To stand or vote in this election, you must:
- be a BMA member
- be a doctor who meets the criteria above
- have a BMA online account.
Nominations and casting your vote
- Nominations - from 9.45am on Monday 11 October 2021 to 12pm on Monday 8 November 2021.
- Ballot - from 1pm on Monday 8 November 2021 to 12pm on Monday 15 November 2021.
Read our guide on how to use our online system for elections.
Results
Results will be announced from Tuesday 16 November 2021 on the election portal.
If you have any questions about these elections, please email us.
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
Call us on 0131 247 3000 or email us.