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BMA and the new MMC Programme Board

26 July 2007

The new Modernising Medical Careers Programme Board for England met for the first time yesterday (Wednesday, 25 July 2007). The BMA has secured four seats and will keep its membership under review depending on the Board’s effectiveness.

The purpose of the Board is to advise ministers on changes needed both to medical training and applying for training programmes in England for 2008 and beyond. It will coordinate with similar processes for the other devolved nations. Much of the work will be through working groups, all of which will have wide stakeholder membership.

The BMA believes this process must be as open and accountable as possible and aims to closely involve its membership closely throughout. The minutes from all meetings will be made public. A new BMA MMC web forum allows members to post their comments and questions, which will be used as a more direct mechanism for communication, in addition to the BMA’s representative structures.

The first meeting was attended for the BMA by:

Dr Tom Dolphin, deputy chairman, Junior Doctors Committee
Professor Geraint Rees, deputy chairman, Medical Academic Staff Committee
Dr Andrew Rowland, vice chairman, Junior Doctors Committee
Dr Ian Wilson, deputy chairman, Central Consultants and Specialists Committee

The two junior doctor reps may change in September when the Junior Doctors Committee holds leadership elections.

The main outcomes from the Board are covered in a note prepared by the BMA representatives which you can download as a PDF above

Official minutes of the Board will be published on this site as soon as they are made available.

The BMA has sought members’ views on the policies it should pursue for changing MMC and MTAS to new systems for 2008 and beyond. It has agreed to join the Programme Board in pursuit of aims set by members, to get the best deal possible, and to make sure that the process of change is properly led by the profession. We will be seeking the views of members on many aspects of the process and feeding these into the work of the Board.

Commenting on the BMA’s involvement on the programme board, Dr Hamish Meldrum, new Chairman of BMA Council, says:

'We have made it clear to the government that the BMA’s continuing participation will depend on how useful and effective the Board is. Our clear purpose must be to do everything we can to represent the clearly expressed interests of our members. To this end, our involvement will be kept under close and continual review. It is crucial that the rebuilding of post graduate medical training is professionally led and rapidly regains the credibility of the whole profession. Doctors’ participation is absolutely vital – and we invite all our members to use the web forum and make their views known.'

Have your say - our new MMC web forum allows you to post your thoughts and questions. You will need to log on to take part.