BMA(NI) Chairman addresses doctors' annual conference in Manchester

BMA Northern Ireland Chairman, Dr Brian Patterson, in his speech yesterday, 29 June 2005, to the annual BMA conference in Manchester, said that whilst the Northern Ireland Assembly remained suspended health services suffered. "This is due largely to the lack of local accountability by politicians, civil servants and managers".

He went on to say that BMA had welcomed the appointment of new health Minister, Shaun Woodward, with whom the Association had just commenced a working relationship and which he hoped would be constructive.

The Chairman told delegates that three of the issues he would be raising with the Minister concerned hospital doctors. "The fact that this section of the medical workforce has still not received this year's Review Body pay award is causing us grave concern. This is contrary to the agreement reached during contract negotiations. We have communicated our concerns in the strongest possible terms to both the Permanent Secretary for Health and the Permanent Secretary for Finance but to no avail. Doctors are not going to wait much longer for agreements to be honoured."

On the issue of the new contract for NI consultants, the Chairman said that: "Considerable unrest is growing amongst grass roots doctors because implementation is sporadic, inconsistent and tardy. This will be a major item for our first meeting with Mr Woodward."

Dr Patterson also told delegates that the third issue involving hospital doctors was the decision by the NI Department of Health not to participate, other than as observers, in the current negotiations for a new Staff and Associate Specialists' contract. The BMA believed this was due to affordability and a possible conflict between the DHSSPS and the paymasters.

There was loud applause when the Chairman told conference that Northern Ireland was to have a smoking ban. However, when the applause died down he said: "Sadly and disappointingly the decision has not been taken as to whether or not it should be a total ban. An unprecedented number of people took part in the Government's consultation on the tobacco issue earlier this year and an overwhelming 91% voted in favour of a total ban. We urge the Health Minister to listen to the clearly expressed voice of the people of Northern Ireland and take the same bold decision as the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. We will give him our full support when he does".