Women Doctors Have Come A Long Way, But More Needs To Be Done, Says British Medical Association

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 15 Oct 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Commenting on the report, "Women Doctors: Making A Difference", the Chair of the BMA's Equal Opportunities, Professor Bhupinder Sandhu, says that while the report celebrates how far female doctors have come it also shows how "much more still needs to be done".

Professor Sandhu, a consultant paediatric gastroenterologist in Bristol and a contributor to the report, adds:

"This report clearly demonstrates that there is no single answer to improving the careers of female doctors. We've come a long way in the last decade and that is extremely positive but our journey is by no means over.

"Women doctors are still often left behind and this is apparent in academia, surgery and leadership roles. Young female doctors need role models so that they can see that it is possible to be a successful doctor and have a family.

"While the report makes specific recommendations, like improving childcare facilities for doctors and making the NHS more family friendly, there needs to be a change of attitude and culture to enable female doctors to reach their full potential in medicine. This change of attitude is important among female and male doctors."

Source
British Medical Association

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