BMA Northern Ireland

Wellbeing support services Counselling Peer support 0330 123 1245

Did you know?

Our free and confidential 24/7 counselling line and peer support service are open to all UK doctors and medical students.

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, share this information with your friends and colleagues across medicine. @bmawellbeing.bsky.social
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-s...

Has “professionalism” ever been used unfairly against you?

We’re collecting stories from medical students nationwide to push for real change.

Share your experience surveymonkey.com/r/Student_Pr...

A burgundy coloured poster style graphic with text reading 'GP collective action tracker survey, OCTOBER survey is now open for one week. #GPsAreOnYourSide and the BMA Northern Ireland logo.

GPs, we want to hear from you.

Share the actions you’re taking and your feedback in our monthly survey.

October’s survey is open for one week only.

Complete it here: brnw.ch/21wWpVN

blue graphic poster with text reading: Come to a drop in session for advice and support, LNC local negotiating committee, BMA Northern Ireland. There is a small people icon representing people sitting around chatting on chairs.

LNC (Local Negotiating Committee) Drop In Sessions

📍Causeway Seminar rm 1, MDEC
Thurs 6 Nov 11am–2pm

📍Altnagelvin Meeting rm 1 MDEC
Thurs 13 Nov 11am-2pm

📍Antrim
Weds 26 Nov at med ed session 1pm

📍RVH Sir Samuel Irwin Lecture Theatre
28 Nov 11am-2pm

All welcome!

It’s #SASWeek2025! 🎉

SAS doctors, join your workplace events and don’t miss our BMA events on Thu 9 Oct:

💻 Webinar: Specialty Doctor to Specialist (7pm)
🔗 Register here: brnw.ch/21wWnqW

💼 Pensions Update @ SWAH (12.30–1.30pm)

Read more: brnw.ch/21wWnqX

a gentlemen standing looking towards the camera in front of a blue BMA branded table and backdrop.

a lady standing and smiling towards the camera in front of a bma branded table and backdrop.

It was great to be at the Network and Learning Practice Managers NI Conference at the Dunsilly Hotel this week, thanks to all who took time to speak to us.

A champion of equality For GP, life peer and former BMA president David Pitt, health and politics were inextricably linked. As part of Black History Month, Tim Tonkin looks back at the legacy of a physician and political an...

Former BMA President, Dr David Pitt was a tireless advocate for the NHS, social justice and equitable healthcare.

Read more about his stellar legacy, shaped by his experiences as a GP, politician and civil rights leader in The Doctor: thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...

An icon shows a figure under a magnifying glass. The text says: "Are student professionalism standards being misused by your medical school? Our survey is open. Share your experiences and make your voice heard." The BMA logo is also shown.

We know that sometimes, medical students feel like ‘professionalism’ is weaponised against them.

If you're a medical student, we need your help to understand the extent of this problem nationally, so we can advocate on your behalf.

Our survey is open: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Student_Pr...

Medical Students do you want to join NIMSC (Northern Ireland Medical Student Committee)?

We have 2 seats open for reps from QUB and 1 seat for a rep from UU.

Nominate yourself here: www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

Noms close: 12 noon Friday 3 October 2025

Have your say!

An image shows doctors wearing BMA orange at a rally. The text says "We're 200,000 members strong"

The BMA is now 200,000 members strong - and counting.

Commenting, council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social said: "Together we are all the BMA, and alongside our brilliant staff, the members are what give the BMA its voice and strength."

Read more: www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

🚩Important update for senior doctors in Northern Ireland about pension tax bills 🚩 Contact details for our pensions team can be found on the BMA website.

🚩Important update for senior doctors in Northern Ireland about pension tax bills 🚩

Contact details for our pensions team can be found here - www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-cont...

A poster style graphic, coloured blue stating 'Contract Meetings, members and non members welcome to join, lunch provided, register today. #OurContractOurFutureNI

Have your say on a reformed contract for RDs in NI!

Join us this October for your contract meetings, we will be visiting:

📍
Belfast City
RVH
The Mater
Lagan Valley
Antrim
Causeway
Craigavon
Daisy Hill
SWAH

Register today: linktr.ee/bma_ni

#OurContractOurFutureNI

BMA's NI GP committee chair, Dr Frances O'Hagan, sums up the feeling of over 150 GPs who attended our final collective action roadshow last night in Belfast.

Keep an eye on the following webpages for updates on how we progress:

🚩 bma.org.uk/our-campaign...

🚩 nilmc.org

#GPsAreOnYourSide

Our penultimate GP Roadshow gets underway tonight in Armagh.

There’s still time to register for the final roadshow tomorrow night in Belfast’s Crown Plaza Hotel at 7.30pm.

Register here - brnw.ch/21wW0Lz

#GPsAreOnYourSide

Yesterday, the NIRDC held its first meeting of the new session. Outgoing chair Fiona Griffin passed the baton to incoming chair Steven Montgomery.

A huge thank you to Fiona for her tireless work and dedication for resident doctors, your commitment has been invaluable! ♥️

Want to join BMA NI Council?

📢 Vacancies for Consultant Members

• 1 from Eastern Division
• 1 from Southern Division
• 1 from Western Division

Candidates must be current consultant members of the BMA

Nominations close 12pm, Mon 22 Sept

Nominate brnw.ch/21wVTsz

Addressing racism and anti-migrant sentiment in the UK – supporting our international medical workforce Following the Unite the Kingdom march, the BMA re-confirms its opposition to racism and xenophobia

The BMA stands firmly against all forms of racism and xenophobia. International doctors are central to the NHS, yet too many face discrimination and hostility. We're calling for stronger protections, inclusivity, and respect so all doctors can thrive.
Read more www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

"This report should shock us all as it paints a highly concerning picture on the health outcomes of the most socially deprived areas in our communities."

NIC chair Dr Alan Stout comments on the publication of the 2025 Health Inequalities Report.

"We are not looking for money for us. We are looking for money for patients."

Derry GP Nicola Duffy on yesterday's Evening Extra articulating the exasperation with narrative that GPs want increased funding for nothing.

Full interview from 10:15 point - www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

GPs 'angry, disappointed and disrespected' by imposed contract There are concerns the continued

We need to make progress on the contract for 2025/26 before we can look at the future - GPs are frustrated and demoralised. They cannot do more with less.

NIGPC deputy chair, Dr Ciaran Mullan, speaks to BBC about ongoing collective action over the 25/26 GMS contract -
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Political look ahead Northern Ireland senior public affairs officer Phil Mynes gives a political look-ahead for this session

Today has been the first full day with the NI Assembly back in action after recess, our senior public affairs staffer @pmynes.bsky.social takes a look at what lies in store for the rest of the political year.

www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

FINAL DAYS TO HAVE YOUR SAY! 🚨

Our contract, our future: You only have 2 days left to take part in our survey of NI residents, asking what you want to see in a reformed contact.

Check your emails for more info. Take the survey now: brnw.ch/21wVyED

Final Year Medical Students in NI

Countdown to the UK Foundation Programme 2026 is on!

👉 Registration opens 16 Sept
👉 Applications open 24 Sept
👉 Deadline is 08 Oc⭐ Timeline dates are being released gradually, so keep checking the UKFP website for the latest updates.

We are here tonight in Ballymena for our first GP Collective Action Roadshow.

Next up:

📍Thurs 11th Sept Mellon Country Inn, Omagh

📍Tues 23rd Sept Armagh City Hotel

📍Wed 24th Sept Crowne Plaza, Belfast

All 7.30pm-9pm

All GPs and Practice Managers welcome.

Register here:
brnw.ch/21wVgJ0

Introduction to searching Embase and Medline on Ovid - live webinar Researchers, clinicians and students have the task of finding relevant articles in a world where the volume of data is enormous. This webinar will provide the tools you need in undertaking the first s...

Introduction to searching Embase and Medline on Ovid - live webinar
Join online to find the tools you need in undertaking the a literature review using Medline and Embase.

🗓️Wed, 17 Sep 2025, 5:00PM - 6:00PM
🌐online

Follow the link to sign up:
www.bma.org.uk/events/intro...

Our contract, our future: You have one week left to take part in our survey of NI residents, asking what you want to see in a reformed contact.

Check your emails for more info. Take the survey now: www.research.net/r/WLKC7YV

Hospitals should be places of safety, but they’re increasingly under attack in conflict zones.

@drandrewgreen.bsky.social and Dr Kitty Mohan discuss this for the latest episode of The Doctor podcast.

🎧 thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/pod... #WorldHumanitarianDay

Third of disabled doctors ‘bullied by NHS colleagues’ A survey of staff found that three quarters struggled to get support

“I’m genuinely at a point where I’m considering leaving medicine… if I walk away, who will be left to advocate for other doctors like me?"

Our survey revealed 100s of disabled and neurodivergent doctors are considering leaving the workforce due to lack of support.
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

GP ROADSHOWS 🚨

NIGPC Collective Action Update and Q&A

📌Tues 2nd Sept Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena

📌Thurs 11th Sept Mellon Country Inn, Omagh

📌Tues 23rd Sept Armagh City Hotel

📌Wed 24th Sept Crowne Plaza, Belfast

All 7.30pm-9pm

Register here: linktr.ee/bma_ni

Image of a person standing smiling holding some BMA leaflets

It was great to be at the Enhanced Induction, New 2 NI event at the Postgraduate Centre in Belfast City Hospital last week. ♥️

Find support and guidance during your training on pay, rotas, breaks, discrimination, wellbeing, and more at: brnw.ch/21wVcps