Royal College of Physicians Report 'Women in Medicine'
The Medical Women’s Federation (MWF) congratulates
the Royal College of Physicians on its most welcome and comprehensive report
on Women and medicine. It raises a number of key issues for workforce planning.
There also needs to be a comprehensive review of working practices with a
need for innovation rather than continuing traditional stereotypic ways to
enable provision of best possible patient care. MWF in its publication of
June 2008 ‘Making part-time work’ made a number of recommendations
in this area. The Women and medicine report highlights the need for career
advice throughout doctors’ careers beginning at medical school. This
essential service will need to be adequately funded and resourced. The report
states that there is a lack of women in academic roles and in leadership positions.
Role models are few and there will be a need for mentorship as well as resolution
of the gender pay gap for women to succeed in these areas.
MWF supports the RCP’s view that urgency is needed. The recommendations
of this report need to be taken forward without delay to ensure that women
doctors are given the opportunity to succeed in all areas of medicine.
The report highlights the need for the MWF which offers support and guidance
to its members, ranging from medical students to Consultants in a wide variety
of different specialities. We actively encourage women doctors to get involved
in medical politics and to put themselves forward for leadership roles on
committees, local and national awards and for public appointments.
