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Leading female surgeon calls for cultural change in UK operating theatres Leading female surgeon calls for cultural change in UK operating theatres
(35 minutes later)
Operating theatres are a “hostile environment for women” and surgery still appears to be old boys’ club, one of the UK’s leading female surgeons has said.Operating theatres are a “hostile environment for women” and surgery still appears to be old boys’ club, one of the UK’s leading female surgeons has said.
Jyoti Shah, a consultant urological surgeon at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has called for a cultural change in the field so women do not feel uncomfortable. Jyoti Shah, a consultant urological surgeon at Burton hospitals NHS foundation trust, has called for a cultural change in the field so women do not feel uncomfortable.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Shah said: “Surgery still remains very male dominated, and it does still appear as an old boys’ club and you’re very much an outsider as a woman. You’re trying to break into their gang almost, and that culture is quite engrained in surgery.”Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Shah said: “Surgery still remains very male dominated, and it does still appear as an old boys’ club and you’re very much an outsider as a woman. You’re trying to break into their gang almost, and that culture is quite engrained in surgery.”
Shah cited an number of examples of sexist behaviour in the industry, such as when a female surgeon she knew was operating alongside a consultant who deliberately brushed against her breasts. Other examples were less obvious, she said, such as female surgeons being referred to as “nurses” and being asked to make tea.Shah cited an number of examples of sexist behaviour in the industry, such as when a female surgeon she knew was operating alongside a consultant who deliberately brushed against her breasts. Other examples were less obvious, she said, such as female surgeons being referred to as “nurses” and being asked to make tea.
“Women are tough resilient creatures, we’re facing this culturally engrained behaviour by our male colleagues, discrimination does exist and its existed for far too long and its time we did something about it,” she said.“Women are tough resilient creatures, we’re facing this culturally engrained behaviour by our male colleagues, discrimination does exist and its existed for far too long and its time we did something about it,” she said.
“This is about saving lives and recruiting the best talent possible, regardless of gender, we want to create an environment that is appealing to everybody – we owe that to patients.”“This is about saving lives and recruiting the best talent possible, regardless of gender, we want to create an environment that is appealing to everybody – we owe that to patients.”
There are around 800 female surgical consultants in England and they represent only 11% of the total, but the number has been increasing year on year. The first female president of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), Clare Marx, agreed that there was a gender inequality in surgery but said the culture was already changing and that a growing number of women were going into medicine.There are around 800 female surgical consultants in England and they represent only 11% of the total, but the number has been increasing year on year. The first female president of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), Clare Marx, agreed that there was a gender inequality in surgery but said the culture was already changing and that a growing number of women were going into medicine.
Marx, who has worked as an orthopaedic surgeon for more than 20 years, said there was a fine line between a joke and sexist abuse. “We can’t tell people to change their culture, what we have to do is grow the numbers and show the way we can change the culture from within rather than dictating. Laying down rules doesn’t work.”Marx, who has worked as an orthopaedic surgeon for more than 20 years, said there was a fine line between a joke and sexist abuse. “We can’t tell people to change their culture, what we have to do is grow the numbers and show the way we can change the culture from within rather than dictating. Laying down rules doesn’t work.”
“We have to be very careful that there isn’t a confusion between a manner of speaking and something that is rightly offensive,” she added.“We have to be very careful that there isn’t a confusion between a manner of speaking and something that is rightly offensive,” she added.
The RCS said that some women who want children could be put off becoming surgeons because it can take up to eight years to graduate from medical school.The RCS said that some women who want children could be put off becoming surgeons because it can take up to eight years to graduate from medical school.