New BMA deputy pledges to highlight funding crisis

David Wrigley, the British Medical Association’s (BMA) newly elected deputy chair of council has assured that he will use his position to hold the government to account over the challenges facing the NHS.

Wrigley, a recognised critic of cuts to NHS funding and further attempts at privatisation, said he was delighted by his election and vowed to continue to speak up for doctors and patients by highlighting the challenges facing the NHS.

He said: “I am delighted to have been elected to this position, following in the footsteps of Kailash, who was an outstanding deputy chair of council. At a critical juncture for the NHS I want to use this role to continue to highlight the huge funding challenges and pressure on frontline services as well as staff, which many politicians and policy makers appear to be oblivious to and which make it harder to deliver high-quality patient care.

“It's vital that the medical profession unites and speaks as one when voicing our concerns over these and other issues. We also need to continue to focus on cuts and ongoing marketisation in the NHS.”

Wrigley, a GP in Lancashire, is also a member of BMA council and GPs committee, and has replaced previous deputy chair Kailash Chaand.