BMA warns of 'catastrophic' effect on health of no-deal Brexit
A no-deal Brexit could be a “catastrophe” for NHS services and workforce, patients and the health of the nation, the British Medical Association has warned. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - August 16, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

[Editorial] Solitary confinement of children and young people
Last week, in a joint statement, the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called for an end to the solitary confinement of children and young people held in UK detention facilities. According to a survey from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 38% of boys detained in the UK have spent time in solitary confinement, physically and socially isolated from others, with almost no purposeful interaction or environmental stimuli, for periods that can stretch for up to 80 days. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - April 27, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: The Lancet Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

BMA report calls for public health funding cuts to be reversed
Ongoing cuts to public health funding in England should be reversed, according to a report from the British Medical Association. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - March 27, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Patient feedback questionnaires to enhance consultation skills of healthcare professionals: A systematic review
Good consultation skills (CSs) are essential for effective patient encounters and it has been shown to drive positive outcomes including enhancing patient adherence and satisfaction [1 –6]. An emphasis was given by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the General Medical Council (GMC) indicating the importance for the quality of the physician’s professional work to be assessed at regular intervals, by patients and colleagues [7], thus supporting their continuous professio nal development [8,9]. (Source: Patient Education and Counseling)
Source: Patient Education and Counseling - March 16, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Hiyam Al-Jabr, Michael J. Twigg, Sion Scott, James A. Desborough Tags: Review article Source Type: research

Finding a Space for Women: The British Medical Association and Women Doctors in Australia, 1880-1939.
Abstract This paper examines the experiences of women in one professional organisation - the British Medical Association in Australia - during a significant period in the development of such bodies. In doing so it offers an opportunity to consider the relationship between professional societies and the construction of a gendered profession. For the medical profession in particular the time-frame of this study, from the 1880s to the 1930s, has been regarded by scholars as especially important. In this period various features of medical professionalism came to prominence: the status and authority of doctors,...
Source: Medical History - December 6, 2017 Category: History of Medicine Authors: McCarthy L Tags: Med Hist Source Type: research

Almost a fifth of EU doctors have made plans to leave UK following Brexit vote
Almost half of European Union doctors working in the UK are considering leaving following the EU referendum result, a British Medical Association survey has revealed. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 24, 2017 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

The Expulsion of South Africa and Rhodesia from the Commonwealth Medical Association, 1947-70.
Abstract In 1970 the medical associations of South Africa and Rhodesia (now, Zimbabwe) were expelled from the Commonwealth Medical Association. The latter had been set up, as the British Medical Commonwealth Medical Conference, in the late 1940s by the British Medical Association (BMA). These expulsions, and the events leading up to them, are the central focus of this article. The BMA's original intention was to establish an organisation bringing together the medical associations of the constituent parts of the expanding Commonwealth. Among the new body's preoccupations was the relationship between the med...
Source: Medical History - September 14, 2017 Category: History of Medicine Authors: Stewart J Tags: Med Hist Source Type: research

Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation decisions: joint guidance.
Authors: Campbell R Abstract Since its introduction in the 1960s as a treatment to restart the heart after sudden cardiac arrest from a heart attack, attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation have become more common in other clinical situations. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be a lifesaving treatment, with the likelihood of recovery varying greatly depending on individual circumstances; however, overall, the proportion of people who survive following cardiopulmonary resuscitation is relatively low. Anticipatory decisions were recognised as being the best way of ensuring that cardiopulmonary resuscitati...
Source: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh - June 3, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: J R Coll Physicians Edinb Source Type: research

Antibiotic awareness poster makes awards' shortlist
A poster highlighting the importance of responsible antibiotic use in both medical and veterinary settings has been shortlisted for an Antibiotic Guardian award. The poster was designed by the BVA in partnership with the British Medical Association, Public Health England and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. It was launched last November to mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2016 and was intended to be displayed in vets' and doctors' practice waiting rooms. ‘We are honoured to be shortlisted for the Antibiotic Guardian Awards 2017, acknowledging the great work being driven forward by the veterinary profession...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 4, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

The BMA Patient Information Awards: What's the history?
This article briefly looks back at it's history and origins. PMID: 28434382 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine)
Source: Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine - April 26, 2017 Category: Information Technology Tags: J Vis Commun Med Source Type: research

The BMA's guidance on conscientious objection may be contrary to human rights law
It is argued that the current policy of the British Medical Association (BMA) on conscientious objection is not aligned with recent human rights developments. These grant a right to conscientious objection to doctors in many more circumstances than the very few recognised by the BMA. However, this wide-ranging right may be overridden if the refusal to accommodate the conscientious objection is proportionate. It is shown that it is very likely that it is lawful to refuse to accommodate conscientious objections that would result in discrimination of protected groups. It is still uncertain, however, in what particular circums...
Source: Journal of Medical Ethics - March 22, 2017 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Adenitire, J. O. Tags: Health policy, Health service research, Human rights Current controversy Source Type: research

One Health and antimicrobial resistance
THE letter endorsed by the Royal Society of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health and British Medical Association calling for an immediate UK-wide ban on routine mass use of antimicrobials in animals in November 2016 has already received attention in Veterinary Record (VR, November 19, 2016, vol 179, p 502). Antimicrobial resistance is clearly of major concern to the future health of people and animals. However, finger-pointing between human and veterinary healthcare is unhelpful in the context of an integrated One Health response. As a veterinarian who also spends a lot of time working as a human doctor (and is therefore &ls...
Source: Veterinary Record - February 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Reeve-Johnson, L. Tags: Letter Source Type: research

In This Issue of Occupational Medicine
<span class="paragraphSection">The new contract recently imposed by the UK government on junior doctors working in the National Health Service (NHS) in England led to an unprecedented industrial dispute. The focus of the contract was to move towards providing routine hospital services 7 days a week which the government argued would address poorer outcomes for patients admitted to hospital at weekends. The British Medical Association (BMA) disputed the statistics used by the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt to justify the claim of a so-called ‘weekend effect’. They also argued that the contract was unfair...
Source: Occupational Medicine - December 18, 2016 Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research

The new junior doctors’ contract: an occupational health and safety perspective
<span class="paragraphSection">The attempts by the UK government to first negotiate and then impose a new contract on junior doctors working in the NHS in England (but not the rest of the UK) have lead to an unprecedented industrial dispute. One of the key features of the new contract, that is the focus of much debate within the media and elsewhere, is the move towards providing hospital services 7 days a week. The government has argued that this is needed to address poorer patient care outcomes for patients who are admitted to hospitals at the weekend. The British Medical Association (BMA), representing the junior d...
Source: Occupational Medicine - December 6, 2016 Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research

Robust response to doctors' call for a ban on 'mass medication of animals
A LETTER calling for an immediate UK-wide ban on the routine mass use of antimicrobials in animals to prevent disease, published in The Daily Telegraph on November 14, has prompted a robust response from veterinary and other organisations with an interest in the livestock industry. Signed by a number of healthcare professionals, including the heads of several medical royal colleges, as well as the presidents of the Royal Society of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health and British Medical Association, the letter urged Andrea Leadsom, the environment secretary, and Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, ‘to introduce a natio...
Source: Veterinary Record - November 16, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research