Dr Andrew Dearden gives evidence to Assembly Health Committee on Sunbeds

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Assembly debate on the Heath Committees report on the use and regulation of sunbeds in Wales – we thought readers might want to know what BMA Cymru Wales said in our evidence to the Committee inquiry - and what regulation we have called for.

In this video, Chairman of BMA Welsh Council Dr Andrew Dearden, gives evidence to the Committee.



Our written evidence, including our recommendations, is also available to view here.

New year message from the Chair of Welsh Council, Dr Andrew Dearden

Well a New Year dawns and the snow has fallen again.

There are several big issues facing our profession in the coming year. Not least Revalidation and the preparations for its introduction.

I am pleased to say that due to the work of BMA Cymru Wales, our dedicated staff and Council members, we in Wales are well placed to agree an acceptable and GMC approved system that I think will be welcomed by the doctors in Wales. (see recent revalidation newsletter for details)

But we also face the worse financial situation the country and NHS has faced for many years, if not decades. We face real term funding / cash cuts to the NHS services. While we know who caused the problems we now face, as it was not us(!), it will fall to us to do what we can to protect the NHS and our patients from severe cuts to their medical services.

The new health boards desperately need our input, ideas and suggestions so we can adapt to the financial cuts without damaging cuts to healthcare provision in Wales. While NHS managers may not have listened to us (much) in the past, they really do need to take our advice and ideas now. Not to do so, would be a mistake.

Chairman of Welsh Council Invites Questions

The Welsh Secretary’s blog is part of a wide range of social media initiatives to ensure communication with our members is as accessible and wide-ranging as possible.

While trying to keep our members and anyone else who reads this blog up to date with current activities, hot topics and general policy position of BMA Cymru Wales, it is also an opportunity for YOU to put questions to the BMA.

Our Chairman of Welsh Council, Andrew Dearden, is particularly keen to receive feedback or questions from our members, whether it concerns junior doctor issues, our Option 7 Campaign, EWTD, etc. So if you have any questions for Andrew please post them here. In fact, if you have questions for any of the Chairs of our committees (GPs, Consultants, Public Health, Medical Students etc) I know they would be delighted to hear form you.

ARM – day two - Chair of Welsh Council addresses conference

Dr Andrew Dearden, Chair of Welsh Council has opened day two of the ARM, in Liverpool.

In his address, Dr Dearden has just delivered an update of BMA Cymru Wales’ work over the last year, outlining the new-look Welsh NHS. He views the last twelve months as a success for the BMA in Wales, in engaging with both the profession and the public as well of course, as representing members.

A packed conference hall loudly applauded at the mention of the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to free accommodation for junior doctors, and at the wise and more enlightened approach the WAG has taken "to build a health service free from commercial pressures, free from competition and free from private, profit driven provision."

As Dr Dearden adds "We are also now beginning to see real benefits of political devolution. The health service in Wales remains true to the ideals of its founder, even if they have been forgotten or deemed irrelevant elsewhere".

But, it doesn’t end there. As we know the health service in Wales is far from perfect, and those working within it are facing fresh and difficult challenges. The historic legacy of under funding health in Wales, coupled with higher levels of disease and deprivation, is hard to overcome. That is why the current NHS re-organisation has to work, we can’t afford for it not to. And with proper and constructive clinical engagement, it will.

Our current focus is on the plight of Junior Doctors and Medical Students in Wales which we will be doing a lot of work on over the next year and beyond if necessary.

Dr Dearden told conference: "We will drive home our message to both hospital managers and politicians, that the effective training of junior doctors and medical students is not a luxury – it is not an optional extra, expendable in the face of targets, it is one of the most critical components for the future success of the NHS in Wales and the UK".

Dr Tony Calland, former Chair of Welsh Council, followed Dr Dearden’s address, putting forward a motion on IT in the Welsh NHS - another area where we seem to be leading on (it’s not often that a BMA Council proposes a motion praising Government – a fact that Dr Calland also recognised in his speech!) He states that WAG has taken a thoughtful and pragmatic approach to modernizing medical IT systems, and has worked closely with the profession to develop it – which is the key to its success, I’m sure.

It’s time for a lunchtime break and a quick walk around the Albert dock, preparing for this afternoon’s agenda which includes community care, mental health, safeguarding children and forensic medicine.

More to follow...

Gearing up for the ARM

I’m really looking forward to the BMA’s Annual Representative’s Meeting (ARM), which starts next week, Monday June 29th.

Most of our members will no doubt be aware what the ARM is, but for anyone reading this who doesn’t know, it is basically where all policy-making decisions for the BMA are decided. It’s held in a different part of the UK each year, with everyone heading to Liverpool this year.

It should be a particularly productive ARM, with many motions being debated including a number of controversial public health and ethical issues such as assisted dying, abortion TV adverts, compulsory immunisation for children and teenage binge drinking.

Dr Andrew Dearden, Welsh Council chairman will be delivering his first speech in this capacity next Tuesday, which will be a key address for Welsh members to watch.

If you are unable to attend, you can watch events unfold online on the BMA website (http://www.bma.public-i.tv) and of course, I will be blogging from there too, so you can keep up-to-date by checking my blog.

BMA Welsh Council Chair features in Western Mail column

This may be of interest to members.

Please take the time to read this column.