The Board of Science and Education, a standing committee of the British Medical Association (BMA), provides an interface between the medical profession, the government and the public. One major aim of the board is to contribute to the improvement of public health, and it has developed a wide range of policies on the health of specific groups such as children and the elderly. Furthermore, the board’s work on infectious diseases has resulted in a number of publications including the BMA guide to rabies (1995), Bloodborne viruses and infection control: a guide for healthcare professionals (1998) and sexually transmitted infections (2002).