BMA public health committee outlines agenda amid challenges

Story Highlight

– First meeting of 2025-26 BMA public health committee held.
– NHS Ten-Year Health Plan and pay disputes discussed.
– Committee aims to expand workforce and address medical unemployment.
– Concerns raised over morale and public health training disruptions.
– 2026 public health medicine conference planned for March.

Full Story

The BMA’s public health medicine committee convened for its inaugural meeting of the 2025-26 session on 22 October, marking the beginning of a new year under the leadership of Chair Heather Grimbaldeston. The composition of the committee included both familiar members from the previous year and several newcomers, enriching the group’s diversity and expertise. Additional members and observers were also co-opted to enhance the committee’s knowledge, specifically in the crucial areas of local government and equality and diversity. Grimbaldeston expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the expanded team.

The agenda for this initial gathering was robust, highlighting several pressing issues including the NHS’s Ten-Year Health Plan for England, ongoing pay disputes affecting medical professionals across the UK, and the anticipated publication of a significant report from the ongoing COVID inquiry. Grimbaldeston took the opportunity to outline the committee’s substantial contributions on behalf of public health clinicians, particularly in relation to the BMA’s submissions to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, as well as its budget recommendations.

The Ten-Year Health Plan has recently catalysed a special representative meeting (SRM) convened by the BMA, which placed notable emphasis on public health matters. This was underscored in the chair of council’s introductory remarks, as well as in a question directed to the Secretary of State. A motion introduced by committee member Chad Byworth, who has since been appointed deputy chair for workforce and regulation, garnered unanimous approval, further spotlighting public health’s significance within the broader framework of healthcare delivery. As noted during the meeting, fostering this momentum will be a crucial objective for the committee in the coming months.

Discussion then shifted towards the workforce strategy that will stem from the Ten-Year Plan. Committee members engaged with the BMA’s lead team preparing the response to the initial consultation from the UK Government. The forthcoming response aims to underscore the importance of public health roles while advocating for concrete measures to retain the current workforce and address medical unemployment without compromising the quality of medical education. There was also a consensus on the necessity to broaden the focus beyond NHS-centric employment, particularly concerning the recruitment of public health personnel who lack specialized training in the field.

A significant concern raised was the potential disruption of public health roles due to the proposed consolidation of NHS England with the Department of Health and Social Care. Feedback from NHS England representatives indicated a prevailing sense of low morale amongst staff, citing inadequate attention to the needs of an overburdened workforce. The slow progression of the merger, along with the absence of identified funding for redundancy payments, left little optimism for future improvements. Consequently, committee members expressed worries that the disruption could adversely affect public health training and maintenance of high standards in the field.

The discussion also highlighted the unstable state of integrated care boards and the chronic underfunding of public health initiatives at the local authority level. The failure to adhere to NHS pay scales and employment terms has rendered positions within local authorities less attractive to public health doctors. Grimbaldeston expressed her intention to collaborate closely with colleagues from Unite and other local authority unions to advocate for their concerns, aiming for restoration of appropriate NHS medical and dental pay contracts.

In addition to addressing these pivotal issues, the committee received reports from the BMA’s population health policy team. Notable topics of concern included children’s mental health, insights from a BMA survey focused on the NHS and net-zero goals, the forthcoming UK Government road safety strategy, and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Preparation is underway for the release of the COVID inquiry’s Module 2 report, with the committee’s perspectives being solicited.

Updates on the latest COVID wave were on the agenda, as was the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s stance regarding vaccinations for healthcare workers, discussions on long COVID, and the scaling back of community surveillance programmes which have hampered informed decision-making.

Regular updates on the ongoing pay disputes and negotiations across the four nations of the UK were shared with the committee. The prevailing opinion indicated that local negotiating committees represent the optimal framework for local public health doctors’ advocacy, although alternative suggestions are welcomed from members.

Lastly, Deiniol Jones, chair of the conference committee, briefed attendees on preparations for the 2026 BMA public health medicine conference, scheduled for 19 March 2026 with a focus on rebuilding the public health framework. Members were encouraged to save the date and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months about what promises to be an engaging and insightful event.