New BMA council chair calls for NHS pensions talks

The new council chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) is seeking an urgent meeting with the government regarding the ongoing dispute over NHS pension provisions.

Following his election last week, Dr Mark Porter has called for a meeting with health secretary Andrew Lansley to discuss the controversial issue, with further industrial action remaining a possibility.

The BMA believes that around one-third of GP practices staged some form of strike action on June 21st 2012, leading to the postponement of up to one-quarter of non-urgent cases.

However, a special meeting of the BMA Council held last week concluded that any decision over further industrial measures should be deferred, partially in order to allow Dr Porter to discuss this matter with Mr Lansley.

The new council chair said: "Our preferred option has always been to find a fairer way forward through negotiation and I want to explore that with the secretary of state for health."