EMBARGOED 18.00 Tuesday 13 October
Proposals to improve access to childcare, introduce part time
training and improve career guidance have been outlined in a
report published today as some of the key ways to help improve the
future career prospects of women doctors.
The National Working Group on Women in Medicine’s report ‘Women
Doctors: Making a Difference’, highlights current
barriers that prevent female practitioners in the medical
profession from reaching senior positions and leadership roles and
sets out recommendations on how best to address these.
In his 2006 Annual Report, the Department of Health’s Chief
Medical Officer recommended that a working group should be
established, to look into these issues. The Working Group’s report
is a direct response to the concern that despite there being an
increase in the number of females entering the profession over the
last 20 years, few have reached senior leadership positions
compared to their male counterparts.*
After consulting widely with a number of stakeholders, male and
female doctors and reviewing all existing research on women in
medicine - the national working group have put forward a number of
recommendations that could help improve the future for women in
the profession, these include:
Improving access to mentoring and career adviceEncouraging women
in leadership Improving access to part-time working and flexible
training
· Ensuring that the arrangements for revalidation are clear and
explicit
Women should be encouraged to apply for the Clinical Excellence
Awards Scheme Ensuring that the medical workforce planning
apparatus takes account of the increasing number of women in the
medical profession Improving access to childcareImproving support
for carersChampions are identified to help fulfil the
recommendations
Baroness Deech, Chair of the National Working Group on Women in
Medicine said:
“There are now more women entering medical school than men. Our
report looks at the obstacles to the full exercise of every
doctor’s potential - from the decision at school to study
medicine, through training, work, maternity leave, childcare,
progress through the profession to leadership, retirement and
pensions - with special emphasis on the choices and problems that
women face.
“Given the illustrious history of women in medicine in the UK, it
is fitting that the UK is seen to lead the way on this issue at a
national level. We should make our goal a profession where every
woman and man goes as far as they wish and as far as their talents
permit.
“Our report focuses very much on the implementation of change. In
order to achieve continuity of patient care and the best use of
every doctor, the reforms must be tackled.”
Sir Liam Donaldson added:
“I welcome Baroness Deech’s report, which offers a clear set of
recommendations with the aim of tackling the obstacles that
continue to prevent female doctors from furthering their careers
to the best of their ability.
“In my 2006 Annual Report, I identified that the problem is not
access to medical school, but rather how we ensure the female
medical workforce is able to fulfil its potential once in
employment. The steps outlined here, such as improved mentoring
support and the option of part-time training could go a long way
to achieving this.
“I will now ensure that the Department of Health considers each
of the recommendations proposed in the report before deciding how
to proceed.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
* The Chief Medical Officer’s 2006 Annual report identified an
under-representation of women in senior grades of the medical
profession, despite representing a proportion of medical school
intake. This number has increased by 4,091 - from 492 (24.4% of
total admissions) in 1960/61 to 4,583 (56.2% of total admissions)
in 2008/09.
Baroness Deech, Chair of the National Working Group on Women in
Medicine will launch the report at 6pm on Tuesday 13 October at
the Royal Society. Media are invited to attend. Interview bids
will be considered on a case by case basis. Baroness Deech will be
available for interviews on the morning of 13 October and at the
launch. Please register your interest and contact the DH Press
Office on 020 7210 5221 An embargoed full copy of the report will
be available on request from the Department of Health Press Office
from Monday 12 October.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk