#EverydaySexism in the NHS

This is a questionnaire looking into perceived issues confronted by female doctors in the work place.

Every day in the work place I hear of anecdotal incidences of my female counterparts being disadvantaged due to their gender. I myself could talk about 3 incidences that occurred to me in the past week! However, on searching the literature regarding any evidence of this, I find that there is none.

There are figures detailing pay inequalities, how female workers are more likely to go part time and proportional representation differing in the more traditionally "antisocial specialities" (i.e. A&E) in favour of the more "family-friendly" GP.

What I want to look into is the more day-to-day experiences i.e: being called a nurse, patients and staff automatically assuming the male in the room is the doctor/senior, being passed over for teaching opportunities in favour of male colleagues etc.

The aims for this project would be:

1. Seeing if female doctors experience issues such as the examples above regularly - check that this is a problem for a wider scope of individuals than those I have come into contact with

2. Obtain quantitative data to highlight the issue (if there is proven to be one)

3. Allow female doctors to tell their stories, allowing then to share them and realise they are not alone

4. I mainly want to find if there is an issues underlying gender differences in the NHS as I believe doing so is the first step in solving the problem - as without knowing it's there, how can it be fixed?!

What I would greatly appreciate from yourselves would be for you to complete the below survey to help with data collection. I hope to publish these results and potentially use the platform to start a conversation to find the necessary solutions.

If you have any queries, please feel free to get in touch at: sexisminthenhs@gmail.com

I will aim to get back to you within 1-2 working days.

Best Wishes,

Dr Chelcie Jewitt MBChB PGCert

Question Title

* 1. How would you identify your gender?

Male

Female

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. What is your training grade/job role?

Foundation Trainee

Core/Speciality Trainee (CT/ST 1-2)

Speciality Trainee (ST 3+)

Consultant

Clinical Fellow (including research and educational fellows)

Staff/Trust Grade

Locum doctor (LAS/LAT)

Non-clinical medical staff

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. What speciality do you work in currently?

Anaesthesia/Critical Care

Paediatrics

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

General or Acute Medicine

Emergency Medicine

General Practice

Surgery

Psychiatry

Public Health

Pathology

Clinical Radiology

Ophthalmology

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. Which region do you work in?

North East

North West

Yorkshire and the Humber

East Midlands

West Midlands

East of England

London

Kent, Surrey and Sussex

South west: Peninsula region

South west: Severn region

Thames Valley

Wessex

Wales

Scotland

Question Title

* 5. Would you say there is a difference in how non-medical staff (i.e nurses, ANPs, midwives, pharmacists etc) interact with male and female doctors within your workplace?

If yes, please can you give some examples in the comment box below

Yes

Question Title

* 6. Would you say there is a difference in how other doctors interact with male and female doctors within your workplace? Please tick all that apply

If yes, please can you give some examples in the comment box below

Yes - my seniors interact differently

Yes - my peers interact differently

Yes - my juniors interact differently

Examples

Question Title

* 7. Would you say there is a difference in how patients interact with male and female doctors within your workplace?

If yes, please can you give some examples in the comment box below

Yes

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* 8. Have you ever experienced any of the following?

Please tick all that apply

Being mistaken for a nurse
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

Despite correcting the individual, continued to be called nurse
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

Been mistaken as a more junior staff member
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

Been mistaken as a more junior staff member when in a clinical scenario with male doctors
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

Been mistaken as a more junior staff member when in a clinical scenario with female doctors
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

Been asked about your personal life during a job interview or supervisor meeting when discussing career progression

Sexualised or inappropriate comments regarding your appearance or dress
This could be by a colleague, patient or relative

When referring to unknown doctor, presuming they use the pronoun "he"
Either finding yourself or others doing this, rather than using "they" or "her or she"

Has a patient ever refused to see you due to your gender

Been asked to assist with the personal care of patients
This may be from staff members, patient relatives or the patients themselves

Been expected to undertake difficult or emotional conversations instead of other colleagues
This may be with patients or with other staff members (i.e. struggling in work)

Been concerned about seeming too emotional at work
This could be your own personal concerns or comments from others

Been assumed to be taking a particular speciality choice, based on gender norms
i.e assumed to be a GP because you want a family

Been undermined by colleagues regarding clinical decisions
Disagreeing with decisions in a disrespectful manner i.e. ignoring your advice/reasoning, asking a different member of staff

None of the above

Question Title

* 9. Following on from the above question, are there any other experiences or comments you wish to provide?

Question Title

* 10. If you would be willing to be contacted in future to give more detailed information about the experiences you describe above, please leave your contact details below:

Name

Email Address

Phone Number

#EverydaySexism in the NHS