Chief Medical Officer's Report 'Women Doctors: Making
a Difference'
This report, presented to the Chief Medical Officer
by Baroness Deech, the chair of the National Working Group on Women in Medicine,
focuses on the role of female doctors and current barriers that prevent them
from furthering their careers. Many of MWF's Officers were involved in inputing
into the report, which was published on 13th October 2009.
MWF's President Dr Helen Goodyear made
the following statement on the report:
This report is welcomed particularly the goal that every woman and every man
goes as far as they wish and as far as their talents permit. Several key recommendations
for improved access are longstanding MWF campaigns and include mentoring and
careers advice, childcare, part time and flexible working, encouraging women
to apply for CEAs and workforce planning taking into account the female workforce.
MWF is also paying particular attention to support and encourages women to
put themselves forward for leadership roles. The CMO report gives a good overview
of issues and if all recommendations are implemented then there is a clear
way forward for women in medicine.
Of concern, however, is the last paragraph of Sir Liam Donaldson’s foreword.
“These changes will take time to implement and the results will take
time to observe”. Time is not on the side of the individual female doctor
waiting for these much needed changes and whose whole career may well depend
upon them. The MWF calls upon Government to implement each recommendation
without delay so that the promised annual review of women in medicine in 2010
has evidence of real change and progress.
