Welsh Junior Doctors Committee video

Watch the Vice Chair of the BMA's Welsh Junior Doctors Committee talking about the reformation of the committee and what issues it's working on, for doctors in Wales.

Time to support some of Wales’ most vulnerable people

It’s time to address what seem to be completely inadequate mental health facilities for young offenders in Wales. Bridgend MP Madeline Moon has highlighted the issue. The lack of provision for some of society’s most vulnerable young men is so bad, they have to travel to England to get appropriate help.

One of the reasons for opening Parc Prison in Bridgend was to allow young people in Wales to carry out their sentences, as near to their families as possible, at a time when they need them most. And if the exact opposite of that is happening, then something needs to be done to remedy the situation. That’s why I back Madeline Moon’s call to set up a dedicated community mental health service at Parc. Otherwise, chances are these youngsters will go on to re-offend and will be returning to Parc prison to serve time as adults.

Wales now needs to go it alone on presumed consent organ donation

I'm really saddened to read the UK Organ Donation Taskforce's report on presumed consent for organ donation.

It also gives me a bit of a sense of deja vu, it not being so long ago since the Assembly's Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee rejected the idea too.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll no doubt be very familiar with the BMA's stance on presumed consent, which is in favour of a soft version of it (ie anyone who does not want to donate their organs, can register their objection. Families would also be consulted to identify any unregistered objection).

This perhaps gives more weight to the argument that Wales should also go it alone, being left to decide for ourselves what organ donation system we think is best. It's all well and good different committees and organisations submitting recommendations, but ultimately it should be down to the general public to decide. Which is why we fully support the Welsh Assembly Government's series of public consultations on the issue taking place at the moment.

Let's hope it leads to an informed debate and informed decisions being made. Afterall, it is hundreds of people's lives on the organ donor register in Wales, potentially being put at stake.

Major breakthrough in fight against LCOitis

Wales is suffering from a major new epidemic - LCOitis.

The symptoms? Confusion, yawning and, in the most extreme cases, an inability to stay conscious. The source of this new and worrying epidemic - colleagues point to the appearance of the Government of Wales Act 2006 as the most possible source.

Let me explain...

Yesterday, I attended a major conference organised by the Bevan Foundation and Positif Politics. It brought together a whole host of speakers to explain how Wales is governed and how organisations like BMA Cymru Wales can make use of the Assembly's new powers. Under the Act, the Welsh Assembly Government and Assembly Members can now ask for Legislative Competence Orders (LCOs) from the UK Government -which basically means the power for the Assembly to change the law in the areas that are devolved.

Until yesterday, I was an extreme sufferer of LCOitis. Everytime an AM, MP, journalist or Welsh academic started talking about 'LCOs' my condition deteriorated.

Thankfully, I am happy to report - I'm getting better. The cure? Well, anyone who thinks they may be suffering should consult Daran Hill and Huw Edwards' excellent guide to the Government of Wales Act, available by contacting the Bevan Foundation.

So far, it's the only known cure.

Action speaks louder than words

BMA Cymru Wales’ Policy and Public Affairs team took part in a Healthy Living event at the Assembly today.

As part of the Assembly’s Healthy Living Week, key health organisations and charities from around Wales had a stand in the Senedd, all with varying themes, focusing on improving health and well-being. It was an excellent opportunity to network and to forge new alliances. BMA Cymru Wales will be meeting with a variety of other organisations over the next few weeks to talk about collaborative working on a number of important health issues.

Assembly Members including, Jeff Cuthbert, Jonathon Morgan, Jenny Randerson, Jane Hutt, Gwenda Thomas and Bethan Jenkins all spoke about the importance of becoming a healthier nation.

Such events are extremely useful, if only to put the issue in the spotlight for a few days. But that’s also where we need to start making a big difference. To stop the ever-growing obesity epidemic here, now’s the time for more than just highlighting the matter for a week. It needs to be continuous, throughout the year. And it needs to be about more than just words. A good point was made by one politician who said it will take years before we start seeing an effect on burgeoning waistlines. But by getting moving NOW, hopefully the tide will turn sooner rather later.