Press and media activity
The BMA’s press office has worked to ensure that the association’s and doctors’ views on the Next Stage Review have been effectively communicated to the media. BMA doctors have taken part in numerous media interviews on Lord Darzi’s proposals for the NHS including BBC TV News, BBC Radio 4, BBC 5 Live Radio, ITN News, Channel 4 News, and GMTV. Our press office has also advised doctors on how to go about securing media in the local press.
The Chairman of Council has given regular updates on the BMA's position at press conferences and in March 2008, highlighted deficiencies in the consultation process and alerted national journalists to the widespread advertisements already appearing in the medical press seeking bids for new health centres.
In October 2007, the BMA issued a press invitation to the London Regional Council conference that took place on 25 October 2007 and worked with the Evening Standard on securing media coverage for the event. The BMA press office has also worked with BBC Breakfast News on a story expressing our concerns with polyclinics. This became a top news story across the BBC network on 16 February 2008.
In addition, the BMA has issued a number of press releases as follows:
- Government plans could deliver a second class service for patients, warn GP leaders - publicising a letter from the Chairman of the General Practitioners Committee to Lord Darzi
- BMA responds to Lord Darzi's vision for the NHS - response to Lord Darzi's preliminary findings of his NHS review
- Doctors urge the government to sit down and talk about the NHS - further response to Lord Darzi's initial report
- Polyclinics not the answer to improving care in London, says BMA - promoting the BMA's response to Darzi's review of healthcare in London
- Polyclinics could threaten NHS services, warns BMA - response by the Char of London Regional Council on preliminary report by Darzi on changes to health services in London
BMA News has provided coverage of what doctors think about Lord Darzi's reviews; a selection of articles and features can be found below (members will need to log-in) News stories