The Medical Students Committee represents more than 22,000 BMA student members from UK medical schools on a wide range of issues affecting medical students. Members of the committee also sit on policy subcommittees that deal with issues relating to the finance, education and welfare of medical students across the UK.

The national Medical Students Committee meets three or four times a year to discuss issues of national importance, and makes regular representations to decision-making bodies such as such as the Department of Health, the General Medical Council, the Medical Schools Council, the UK Foundation Programme Office and parliament. The committee’s priorities for the year include examining the effect on medical students of the NHS bursary review and university top-up fees.

Since arriving at the University, Deakin has worked as a Student Ambassador to widen access to top universities, particularly to medical courses. He has also worked with the Sutton Trust’s annual Bristol summer school on its medical sciences stream and has mentored school children through Access to Higher Education initiatives.

Professor Peter Mathieson, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, said: ‘We are delighted that a Bristol student has been elected to this important position. Throughout his time here, Nick has demonstrated a real commitment to issues and concerns affecting, and important to, students. He will make an extremely capable chair.’

Deakin said: ‘I feel really honoured to have been elected to this position and am privileged to be at the forefront of medical politics, standing up for students. I want to ensure that the BMA Medical Students Committee engages with medical students to represent our views to the press, politicians, university leaders and government officials with the aim of bringing about positive change to the experience of training to become a doctor.’

More information on the work of the committee and its priorities for the year can be found on the BMA website.