DR MAX PEMBERTON: We need more female doctors in the NHS... but there is a downside

Release time：2024-05-07 16:30:43 Source：Stellar Signals news portal

Does the sex of your doctor matter? In general, I'd say it shouldn't really make a difference, although there are some times, for example during intimate examinations, when it could be a consideration.

Having said that, I was fascinated by the results of a study carried out by UCLA and published in the journal Annals Of Internal Medicine, which found the death rate for female patients treated by women doctors was lower compared with those treated by male physicians.

The researchers who conducted the study were at a loss to explain their results, although they suggested it might be down to male doctors underestimating the severity of a female patient's illness.

I would tend to agree: there's no obvious biological explanation for this difference between the sexes, so the answer must be a psychological one, based in the unconscious bias of male doctors.

Previous research has certainly shown that male medics underestimate their female patients' pain levels, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms and stroke risk, so it seems a reasonable conclusion.

The UK, US, Canada, Europe and Japan have seen shifts in the numbers of women entering the medical profession

It's also possible that some women feel more comfortable describing their symptoms to a woman doctor, which in turn means they may receive more appropriate care, tailored to their needs.

Thank goodness, then, that more women are coming into the medical profession — and the days of them being considered 'unsuitable' and lacking the necessary mental and physical stamina for the job are over.

This used to be particularly true for women who wanted children.

When I was at medical school I remember an old female professor of mine telling me that she was one of only three women in her entire year in medical school in the 1950s when women were frequently ignored when they put their hands up in seminars, and tolerated at best.

The idea that as a woman you might pursue a career in anything other than family medicine, or paediatrics, was deeply frowned upon.

Those who did make it to be doctors must have been tough as old boots to survive in such a hostile, sexist world.

How times have changed! When I was at medical school, 25 years ago, mine was the first year there was an equal split between the sexes. Some medical schools now have 80 per cent female students, which is an astonishing shift.

READ MORE: DR MAX PEMBERTON: The day it turned nasty when I refused to sign a healthy man off sick 

Of course, it's a good thing that more women are entering the medical profession, but should we not consider what this means for the landscape of our health care in the future?

At the moment, just over half of registered doctors are men. As more and more women enter the profession, we may well see an increase in doctors working part-time.

Thirty-eight per cent of female consultants work part-time compared to five per cent of male consultant physicians. Two-thirds of GPs are women —with a large proportion opting for less than full-time work.

We should see a corresponding increase in the number of places at medical school to account for this, but we don't.

While the number of medical school places has slightly increased in recent years, this is only to allow for increased need in personnel on the current model, not to allow for more of the workforce working part-time in the future.

This problem is not unique to the UK — the U.S., Canada, across Europe and Japan have seen shifts in the numbers of women entering the medical profession, have struggled to plan for part-time workers and so they have had problems with a shortage of doctors. The problem is already affecting both hospitals and primary care.

Thank goodness we have moved on from those awful, sexist days of yore where women doctors were a minority and ostracised in the profession — especially if women experience better results with female doctors.

But we must we account for the shift in gender balance — and the increase of part-time working that this brings — by attracting more students and doctors or we face a medical workforce disaster.

The number on the transplant waiting list is at its highest in a decade but the number of donor organs has yet to recover after the pandemic. When I worked on a liver unit I saw so many in desperate need of transplants. I can think of nothing more wonderful than to leave the gift of life when you die. 

I’ve seen the truth behind Baby Reindeer

Have you seen Baby Reindeer on Netflix? I was hooked.

The drama is an autobiographical story written by Richard Gadd (who plays the lead, Donny), detailing his experiences of being stalked as a man in his 20s. Featuring Jessica Gunning, who gives a compelling performance as the stalker, Martha, it is gripping and unexpectedly funny.

Jessica Gunning plays stalker Martha and Richard Gadd plays the lead Donny in Netflix hit Baby Reindeer

As someone who has worked with a number of victims of stalking, as well as people who have been stalkers, I found it offered a nuanced and perspicacious view of the complex psychology of how this situation can develop, as well as portraying the ambiguity and uncertainty the victim feels. It also gives a well-rounded and heartbreaking insight into how an obsession starts through misreading signs.

It’s one of the most powerful and accurate portrayals of the utter devastation and long-term effect stalking can have on a victim I’ve seen.

Almost half of all patients never or rarely see the same GP, according to a poll for the Liberal Democrats, which starkly underlines a serious shift in medicine.

We’ve moved away from doctors knowing their patients and building up trust over the years. Increasingly, a visit to your GP means sitting in front of someone who barely glances up from their keyboard, reciting a list of symptoms, then walking away clutching a prescription.

This dreadful experience flies in the face of evidence that shows the extraordinary value of a proper doctor-patient relationship. One thing I treasure about being a doctor is getting to know my patients — particularly in mental health. Some of my patients have trusted me with things they’ve shared with no other human being. This has enabled me better to help them.

Dr Max prescribes... 

The Psychology Of Memory by Dr Megan Sumeracki and Dr Althea Need Kaminske

Shortly before sitting down to write this I lost my keys. For the second time today. Does this happen to you? If so, don’t worry. It doesn’t necessarily mean your memory is bad.

Our brain forgets things on purpose so it can store other information, say the scientists who have written this book, which also suggests ways to remember names and numbers.

The Psychology Of Memory by Dr Megan Sumeracki and Dr Althea Need Kaminske

Related articles