Royal College Of Physicians' Report - Women And Medicine - The Future

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 10 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Pathologists welcomes the Royal College of Physicians' report into the future of women in medicine and the crucial need to plan for the increasing proportion of women doctors, a change that is already underway throughout the medical workface in the UK.

Pathology is often viewed as an attractive career choice for women entering medicine as pathologists are able to control their working hours in comparison to other medical specialties. This, coupled with the diversity of specialties within pathology (19 at the last count) has seen an increase in the number of women entering pathology.

The College's own figures reflect this change, since 2007, 63% of trainees entering pathology are women. The RCP's report also highlights that pathology has above average numbers of female consultants (39%) compared to other medical fields. The report also found that women choose careers with more opportunities to work directly with patients, proving once again that pathology can be an excellent career choice, because contrary to popular belief many pathologists are in daily contact with patients in clinics and hospital wards.

The College is proud to be able to represent a medical specialty that is well suited to offer training and part-time and flexible working options to women at all stages of their medical careers. In the light of this, we endorse the main findings of this important and well-researched report, including the need to assess the economic impact of changing working patterns in the NHS and how this will have to be reflected in future policy decisions. We also want to see more extensive information and guidance on the various career choices being offered to female medical students when it comes to making that vitally important choice of their preferred speciality.

Notes

-The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership organisation committed to setting and maintaining professional standards and to promoting excellence in the practice of pathology, which includes all aspects of laboratory medicine; microbiology, immunology, haematology, clinical chemistry and histopathology. -It is a registered charity and is not a Trades Union. The College has 8785 members who work in hospital laboratories, universities and industry worldwide.

-The College aims to advance the science and practice of pathology, to provide public education, to promote research in pathology and to disseminate the results

-The College Council members carry out the Executive work of the College.

-To visit Lab tests On Line go to http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk

Source
Royal College of Pathologists