Thank you (I think) to my colleagues on the BMA retired members committee as it appears I will be continuing as your chair for the coming session until 2025. Congratulations to Stephen Millar who also returns as your deputy chair. There is a lot to do.

Retired members conference feedback

There was a long list of suggestions coming out of the feedback from the BMA retired members conference and we will be tackling as many of these as we can. I note the feedback generally was good and thanks must be due to Surjait Singh and Tom Kane, conference chair and deputy chair respectively, for their hard work in putting it together, as well as Laura Clark and our new secretariat for their invaluable behind-the-scenes support.

We have already had a follow-up meeting and reviewed some possible improvements for next year now we have extra staff resource allocated. I will be trying to ensure that, while we have limitation on the numbers who attend in person, we can hopefully accommodate more virtual attendees and that we will ensure their participation is properly supported.

2025 retired members conference – save the date 20 March 2025. Surjait Singh, conference chair, will be in touch with more detail as plans for the 2025 conference evolve. The theme will be ‘Feeling Valued – Giving Back’. Please put the date in your diary.

BMA restructure for local activism

There was a lot of concern expressed at conference about the negative view of retired members, which had been put forward by some of our colleagues, particularly in relation to the consultation around the restructuring of the BMA divisions. It proposed the association should move from local pan branch-of-practice-based divisions to new work-based units.

I would note that motion 19 at the annual representative meeting, which included the changes required to the BMA’s articles and bye-laws to enable the proposals to take effect, fell and thus it is back to the drawing board. Many thanks to those of you who returned proxy votes or registered for attendance at the AGM.

It is clear the divisional structure is not functional in many places and the time is indeed right for some restructuring. I am convinced we need to ensure the way forward is inclusive and supports integration of all members across primary and secondary care, as well as inclusion of all other branches including ourselves as retired members. The restructure must remember the importance of the BMA as a professional association as well as recognising the need to strengthen the union functions.

Resident doctors

Our former junior colleagues, as I have previously noted, have been looking for an alternative term that better represents their often-skilled status. They have settled on ‘resident doctors’ as a replacement. I believe this is going to be launched formally in a couple of months. In the meantime, we hope they can find an acceptable way forward with our new Government at Westminster.

Annual representative meeting 2024

The ARM took place in Belfast across two days in June and I was there representing retired members along with many other elected retired members. If you did not read my ARM report to the representative body you can read it here. There was a sense for many it was too short but the time available was used to the full.

We did not have any retired members’ motions although there was clearly support from some, which came from other constituencies. There were a number of retired members who spoke against the aforementioned motion 19. 

The treasurer outlined concerns about association finances and proposed increases in subscription fees – including a specific contribution to the strike fund, which will continue for potential future use in the event our resident colleagues achieve a solution. There is going to be no change to the number of years required to be granted life membership (50).

We had a successful retired members dinner at the ARM this year. We will I am sure continue it for next year and will try and find somewhere a little quieter…

Pensions

There continue to be challenges to the resolution of the McCloud issues around pensions and many of you may yet be getting communications about the choices open to you. There are opportunities for you to continue pension contributions in the 2015 scheme while already benefitting from taking your pension.

Remember, you need to check your pension is being indexed in line with inflation every April. Should you receive communication in respect of McCloud remedy choices, please do not ignore them and do consider the options. In particular, it appears some letters are being issued with incorrect decision dates. You have to be granted adequate time to make a decision and the incorrect dates may be a result of delays in getting choice statements out.

Transition to retirement and BMA membership

Many of our colleagues are choosing to stay in their previous branch of practices into retirement, or are not aware that they can become retired members while still doing some work.  You can work as a retired member, the definition is ‘permanently, or predominantly retired’, though you may trigger raised membership costs based on breaching earnings’ thresholds.

While you may only have voting rights in one membership category you can have more than one membership category. We will be working to encourage members either retired or transitioning towards retirement to reclassify their membership as ‘retired’ so that they will receive and be eligible for retired member news and events – as well as updates from their ‘working’ branch of practice.

As ever, if you have any queries or thoughts you would like to share, please contact me or Laura Clark and we will do our best to help.