British Medical Association could axe up to a third of its staff amid cash crisis

Exclusive: Anger at union’s decision to put 200 of its 600 staff in England at risk of redundancy The British Medical Association is threatening to axe up to a third of its entire workforce to help it tackle a significant cash crisis. The doctors’ union has placed 200 of its 600 staff in England at risk of redundancy. That has triggered anxiety and fury among staff, who have accused the BMA of appalling behaviour and “hypocrisy”. Disclosure of the move comes days after resident doctors in England who belong to the BMA voted narrowly to accept a pay deal that will increase the salaries of the best paid to a basic £77,348. They won their pay rise after 15 rounds of strikes which badly disrupted NHS care and cost it billions. The BMA is losing millions of pounds every year despite its membership having hit a record 200,000 as a result of its vigorous campaigns in recent years – including strikes – for better pay. It has decided to shed up to a third of its staff in England as part of a major restructuring of its operations intended to help reduce its recurring deficit. The BMA’s finances are so precarious that it has needed a total of £86.8m in subsidies since 2008 from the British Me