Royal College battles for more women surgeons

The Royal College of Surgeons has announced plans to increase the number of women consultants but it will be many years before domination by men comes to an end.

Currently, only 5% of the United Kingdom's 4190 consultant surgeons are women. The college wants to double this to 10% within five years and double it again to at least 20% by 2009.

"These are ambitious but realistic targets," said college president Barry Jackson. "I am confident we will meet them."

He dismissed as "absolute nonsense" the stereotype that certain branches of surgery are too physically demanding for women. "Women are a very tough sex. There is no evidence that they cannot do long hours or arduous duties." As for orthopaedics, he said it was the "carpentry ethos" which put women off not the physical demands.

He admitted, however, that some specialties such as cardiothoracic surgery and neurosurgery did not appeal to women because they require inflexible, long working hours. The college's gender equality campaign will promote existing flexible training options by running regional workshops and producing more guidance to encourage surgeons to consult its job share register and seek advice from its adviser on flexible training.

The roots of the problem, however, can be traced back to school leavers' perception that, except for ophthalmology and gynaecology, surgery is for men. To tackle this, the college will take part in school careers programmes and have women surgeons make presentations.

Sixth formers will be given the chance to accompany surgeons on ward rounds and in clinics. The college hopes that within five years 30% of all basic surgical trainees will be women. To help achieve this, medical students will be able to talk informally to men and women surgeons in all specialties.

Women in surgical training will be encouraged to speak with preregistration house officers and tell them about the rewards of a career in surgery.

Richard Woodman, London


studentBMJ 1999;07:394-436 November ISSN 0966-6494