Your report on the British Medical Association’s remuneration changes bears little resemblance to what, in truth, happened at the meeting where these decisions were made and at which I was present (Top officers at doctors’ union given huge, secret pay rises, 8 June).
It was not a “secret pay award”. This issue was one item at the November meeting of the BMA’s council with more than 25 council members in attendance. The senior officers affected by these changes were not present during this discussion and did not vote on the proposals. Dr Mark Porter does not, in fact, receive the vast majority of the figure you report as his salary. £54,000 is paid directly to Dr Porter’s NHS Trust in compensation for the extent of the commitment required of BMA senior officers. In addition, Dr Porter opted to forgo a further £77,000, meaning he receives £40,000 per annum for his additional work as BMA chair of council.
It is unclear why the Guardian decided not to make all of this clear in its reporting and instead based its story on inaccurate, anonymous briefings given seven months after the decisions, which, as a matter of course, will be reported to the membership at the BMA’s annual representative meeting later this month.
Keith Ward
Chief executive, BMA
