Pulse launches investigation into sexism in general practice

Pulse has launched an investigation into sexism in general practice.

Based mainly on a special survey of around 700 female and marginalised gender GPs, the four-part analysis reveals the extent to which women face abuse, harassment, casual sexist comments, hampered career progression and even burnout due to the nature of work given specifically to female GPs.

The first part of the sexism in general practice investigation will focus on the abuse, harassment and sexist comments they face from patients and colleagues in the practice. Female GPs have told us of being stalked by patients, facing harassment from senior partners and day-to-day belittling of their roles.

The second part will focus on how women’s career progression is affected, how sexist attitudes around partnerships and families continue to prevail, leaving women having to take sessional roles, even if they did want to pursue partnerships. It also shows how women are still being given certain types of clinical work that they may have no interest in, sometimes as a result of patient preferences, but sometimes due to outdated attitudes within the practice.

Pulse then explore the gender pay gap, which is greater in general practice than other professions, even when controlled for other factors. We look at how the GP funding crisis disproportionally affects female GPs.

And finally, an analysis of female representation on health boards, PCNs and professional groups.

The full investigation will be released this week, on the Pulse investigations hub.