International Issues

20,000 girls in the UK are at risk from female genital mutilation. The practice was outlawed in Britain in 1985 and taking children out of the country to have it performed was made illegal in 2003. In spite of this, a growing number of female circumcisions are being carried out in the UK, often in school holidays so that no-one questions the girls’ absence.

MWF have always tried to raise the profile of this issue, and do so at every opportunity. The plight of women in Afghanistan, women victims of war, and the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, are other areas of interest. 

MWF Past President Dr Helen Goodyear will become the Northern European Vice-President of the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) in 2013. Dr Clarissa Fabre became MWIA's representative on the World Health Organisation in May 2012. 

Partnerships in general practice

Currently only 46% of GPs are partners; of those who are not partners 76% would like to achieve partnerships. What is needed urgently is a financial incentive for practices to take on new partners, so that general practice does not become a predominantly salaried service, run by entrepreneurial GPs and private companies.

Many women are entering general practice, but they must be prepared to take on leadership roles.

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Clinical Excellence Awards

MWF have annual meetings with the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) to ensure that women doctors are fairly represented on the committees which allocate the awards.

We are a nominating body for the awards, and run regular workshops on how to apply (‘Top Ten Tips’). Each year we invite women to submit their application forms to MWF before the closing date for scrutiny by an experienced committee of women consultants and academics. 

Widowers’ Pensions

Any money earned by a woman prior to 1988 does not count towards her widower’s pension, in stark contrast to that earned by a man. This anomaly applies not only to women doctors, but to all women working in the NHS. Many women are now the main breadwinner, and this situation is unjust and inequitable.

The BMA recently took a test case on this to the High Court. While the judgment found that this anomaly was indeed unfair it found that rectifying this would be too great an expense for the public. The BMA are considering appealing this decision and MWF's President Dr Clarissa Fabre wrote to the BMA to encourage them in continuing to push for this to be changed.

Childcare

Several MWF members formed part of the Working Group for the 2009 CMO report 'Women Doctors: Making a Difference'. The report recommends tax relief on childcare, an effective Childcare Coordinator in every Trust, and better internet resources to provide local information on childcare, emergency cover etc.

The perspective of the father, and his potential contribution to the sustenance of his wife's career and the welfare of his children, are rarely considered. The major burden of childcare for the foreseeable future will fall on the mother, but the key issue (for parents and administrators) is that the period of intensive childcare is limited, and, once complete, both careers can proceed at full pace. There should be a debate about work and family life but if it focuses mainly on mothers, then that in itself is part of the problem.

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Pregnancy and Maternity Leave

Locum payments in general practice to cover a woman doctor during maternity leave, are at the discretion of the local Primary Care Trust (PCT). Several PCTs have decided to pay nothing at all towards these locum costs (which are considerable). This will deter practices from employing a woman doctor.

MWF is campaigning for a national agreement, so that locum payments are uniform across the UK and are not left to the discretion of PCTs (or their successor), to ensure that practices are not penalised for employing a woman doctor. Women in hospital medicine should not have to continue night shifts beyond 28 weeks pregnancy, unless they wish to do so. However, they should be prepared to continue other on-call duties, such as weekends and Public Holidays, so that the extra burden does not fall on their colleagues. Ideally pregnancy should be cost-neutral to each general practice and Hospital Trust, and work-load neutral to colleagues.

A big problem at present in hospital medicine is that when a woman junior doctor or consultant goes on maternity leave, a suitable locum cannot be found (or the Trust does not wish to employ one for reasons of cost). Locum cover then falls on the remaining doctors, often for no extra pay, leading to resentment and sometimes victimization of the absent doctor. A possible solution is a centrally held 'Parental budget' to which Hospital Trusts and PCTs can apply, to cover the locum costs.

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