Volume 121 : 2026
The West of England Medical Journal (WEMJ)
The rebirth of a journal
Dr Nabil Jarad, Editor-in-Chief
Consultant General and Respiratory Physician. Gloucestershire Hospitals - UK
A recent discussion on the COVID inquiry led by Baroness Heather Hallett was discussed at a session at the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Society meeting. The Speaker, Professor Paul Goddard, presented an up-to-date expose’ on the basis and the development of the inquiry. This was followed by a lengthy discussion by the delegates (largely medics).
It was striking that the discussants expressed strong views often based on personal experience during the pandemic. They raised questions which they hoped the inquiry might be tasked to answer. This included the veracity of evidence for the lock down and the associated measures that affected the population. Concerns expressed about ignoring scientific publications, the disease epidemiology, especially in the youth, the effect of repurposed medications used and the evidence for rolling the COVID vaccines.
Each question would merit a publication as an opinion.
It is now accepted that academic work has several levels of evidence. But, increasingly, our considered clinical observations, and opinion in our day-to-day practice is also worth noting. The WEMJ offers a platform for airing and publishing those views and opinion.
For this reason, we have decided to relaunch The West of England Medical Journal. This journal is attached to the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Society. Its archive publications go back to 1990, when articles were part of the National Centre of Bio-Technology Information (NCBI) of the National Institute of Health (NIH)
The articles were distributed over several medical and surgical specialties. The journal went into dormancy during the COVID period despite the society continued to be active.
The journal is peer-reviewed. The Peer-Review Team works around the country and consists of doctors (working and retired). Articles are visible on common search engines. It is probably the only journal that allows publications of issues that authors feel needs to be aired.
The submission is now open. The journal aims to publish controversial issues so long as they are sound, do not cause material harm, do not cause offence and are in breach of medical ethics.
It is hoped that senior and junior doctors alike would contribute to the journal with publications of benefit to a wider audience.
It is now decided to re-launch the journal. It offers opportunity for publication of scientific material, case reports, opinion, quality improvement projects relevant to the audience, position on current medical and medico-political issues.