BMA Q&A: ‘Caring, supportive and collaborative’
The BMA recently launched a major survey of all members. BMA council chair Chaand Nagpaul explains why it is important for members to add their voices to a vision of an NHS they wish to work in
Q: Why are you carrying out a survey of all BMA members?
A: The survey is part of the launch of the BMA’s ‘Caring, supportive, collaborative: a future vision for the NHS’ project – at a critical juncture of unprecedented pressures in the NHS, which is having a serious and adverse impact on doctors and patients. It is the most comprehensive BMA survey of its kind to give voice to the realities, experiences, concerns and aspirations of everyday doctors, which is why we want to hear from the profession directly.
Q: How is the survey being sent to members and why is it important for me to complete it?
A: The survey was launched earlier this month and is being sent by email via ICM with a unique link for each member. Reminders are also being sent out, with a closing date of 4 June. You can search for ‘future vision’ in your inbox.
The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete given it is necessarily comprehensive, and will enable us to speak on behalf of doctors on a range of important issues.
If you have not already done so, I would urge you to complete the survey, so that you have a voice in shaping your own future.
Email us if any member has not received an email regarding the survey
Q: What areas is the survey looking at?
A: We want to hear from members about the issues that affect them daily, including: the effect NHS underfunding is having on doctors and the services they provide; systemic pressures and the impact on safe care; medical error and whether doctors feel they are in a learning or blame culture; raising concerns; doctors experience of the primary/secondary care interface; workforce and the role of non-medical healthcare professionals.
Q: How will you use the survey results?
A: The survey is only one element of the ‘Caring, supportive, collaborative: a future vision for the NHS’ project and will provide us with important information about the concerns and aspirations of doctors.
We all know of the problems facing the NHS, the challenge is how we find the solutions. As the only organisation to represent all doctors workings across all sectors of the UK, we are uniquely placed to meet this challenge.
Ultimately, the views expressed in this survey will inform the future vision of the sort of NHS doctors want to work in and will be a key part of dialogues and negotiations with the Government and other policy makers when representing our members.
Q: What are the next steps for the caring, supportive, collaborative project?
A: This ambitious project will be iterative, with a range of national and local engagement events to develop our vision over the coming year.
We held a member launch event earlier this month bringing together more than 50 elected BMA members and those from regions, spanning medical students, consultants, staff, associate specialist and specialty doctors and medical academics to public health.
And in the coming months we will be holding further member and stakeholder events, as well as asking for the views of the representative body at this year’s annual representative meeting.