BMA policy book 2019-2020 British Medical Association BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP Contents ABORTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) .................................................................. 3 ADVERTISING ............................................................................................................................ 4 ALCOHOL ................................................................................................................................... 5 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES........................................................................................................... 7 ARMED FORCES ......................................................................................................................... 7 PAY .................................................................................................................................................... 10 BMA, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION ........................................................................................... 11 ARM PROCESS ...................................................................................................................................... 15 COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 17 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNANCE OF THE ASSOCIATION ............................................................................... 19 COUNCIL .............................................................................................................................................. 20 DEVOLUTION ........................................................................................................................................ 21 DIVISIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 21 LOCAL STRUCTURES ................................................................................................................................ 22 MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ........................................................................................................................... 24 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS .................................................................................................................. 25 OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION ................................................................................................................ 25 PAYMENTS TO MEMBERS ......................................................................................................................... 26 PUBLICATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 26 REGIONAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................... 26 REPRESENTATION OF SPECIFIC GROUPS ....................................................................................................... 27 SECRETARIAT ........................................................................................................................................ 28 BOXING ................................................................................................................................... 28 BREXIT/EU REFERENDUM ........................................................................................................ 28 BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL ..................................................................................................... 29 CAR PARKING .......................................................................................................................... 30 CERTIFICATION ........................................................................................................................ 30 CHILD ABUSE/PROTECTION ..................................................................................................... 31 CHILD CARE FACILITIES / COSTS ............................................................................................... 32 CHILD HEALTH CARE ................................................................................................................ 33 CLINICAL AUDIT ....................................................................................................................... 35 CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY ......................................................................... 35 COMMUNITY CARE .................................................................................................................. 37 CARE OF THE ELDERLY ............................................................................................................................. 40 INTERMEDIATE CARE ............................................................................................................................... 42 COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................... 42 SUSPENSIONS/DISCIPLINARY .................................................................................................................... 44 CONSENT TO TREATMENT ....................................................................................................... 44 CONSULTANTS ........................................................................................................................ 44 CONSULTANT CONTRACT ......................................................................................................................... 49 COUNCIL FOR HEALTHCARE REGULATORY EXCELLENCE ............................................................ 50 CYCLING .................................................................................................................................. 50 DISABLED PERSONS ................................................................................................................. 51 DRUGS .................................................................................................................................... 51 PRESCRIBING ........................................................................................................................................ 55 EMERGENCY SERVICES ............................................................................................................. 58 END OF LIFE ISSUES ................................................................................................................. 58 PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE ................................................................................................................. 60 ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................................................................... 60 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ....................................................................................................... 62 DISCRIMINATION ................................................................................................................................... 64 FAMILY PLANNING .................................................................................................................. 64 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ................................................................................................ 65 FORENSIC MEDICINE ............................................................................................................... 65 FREEDOM OF SPEECH .............................................................................................................. 68 FREEMASONS .......................................................................................................................... 68 GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL ................................................................................................... 69 FITNESS TO PRACTISE .............................................................................................................................. 72 MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ................................................................................................................. 73 REVALIDATION AND APPRAISAL ................................................................................................................. 73 GENERAL PRACTICE ................................................................................................................. 77 DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES ............................................................................................................................ 88 FUNDHOLDING ...................................................................................................................................... 88 GP CONTRACT ...................................................................................................................................... 89 GP HOSPITALS ...................................................................................................................................... 90 PERSONAL MEDICAL SERVICES .................................................................................................................. 91 PRACTICE BOUNDARIES ........................................................................................................................... 91 REFERRALS ..........................................................................................................................................