News Release

The Media Must Look Beyond London When Referring To The UK

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

(BMJ should stop confusing its readers over national differences)

In a Personal View in this week's BMJ Arthur Morris attacks the London-based media, including the BMJ, for confusing readers and viewers about the differences between the four countries of the United Kingdom. Mr Morris, who is the chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish Council and a consultant plastic surgeon in Dundee, says that as devolution occurs "it is time for them [the media] to do better".

Mr Morris complains that the terms UK, Britain and England are often used incorrectly by the media and that there is a tendency to report English affairs as if they cover the whole of the UK. As well as citing examples where the BMJ has got it wrong he singles out the BBC's Radio Four Today programme for one of its reports: "Tests have shown the Post Office is not fulfilling its requirement for next day delivery of first class mail....and we are not just talking about remote areas such as the Shetlands and Northern Ireland, but also closer to home in north London."

Morris mentions several examples of cases that have caused confusion, including the creation of NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) which has been reported as covering the whole of the UK, when in fact it only covers England and Wales. He says that devolution is one of the catalysts for change that makes such mistakes "increasingly irritating and important" and challenges the media (including the medical media) to report facts more accurately.

Contact:

Mr Arthur Morris, Chairman, BMA Scottish Council, Edinburgh and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Dundee

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