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Dr Hamish Meldrum elected BMA Chairman

Press release 28 June 2007

Dr Hamish Meldrum, a GP from East Yorkshire has been elected chairman of the BMA Council.

Dr Meldrum, who has been chairman of the BMA’s GPs Committee since 2004, was elected in a three-way contest at a meeting of the BMA Council today (Thursday 28 June 2007), following the Association’s annual meeting in Torquay. He will now stand down as the GPC Chairman.

He takes over immediately from the Acting Chairman of Council, Dr Sam Everington who had been in the post since the resignation of James Johnson on 25 May 2007.

Dr Meldrum said: "I feel very privileged to have been elected chairman of BMA Council. We face a number of serious challenges, of which, sorting out the MTAS debacle must be a major priority. In addition, the SAS contract has been stalled for far too long, we face the loss of professionally-led regulation, a worrying fall in the number of medical academics and continuing threats to previously-agreed contracts for GPs and consultants. All this is in the context of uncertainties about devolution and the future direction of travel for the NHS, including the influence of the private sector. It is my role to ensure the profession remains united and that doctors can be guaranteed the right working conditions that will enable them to continue to provide the best care for their patients.”

Dr Meldrum has been involved in medical politics since the 1980s. He joined the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC) in 1991, was Chairman of the East Yorkshire Local Medical Committee between 1996 and 1999, became a GPC Negotiator in 1997 and has been GPC Chairman since 2004.

His appointment coincides with that of the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown:

“With a new leader of the country and a new leader of the BMA, this is a chance for a fresh start. Gordon Brown must fully engage with all health professionals if he is serious about his commitment to the principles and values of the NHS” said Dr Meldrum.

Ends

Read his biography.