This is an invitation for FREE in-person tickets to our national MWF conference in central Cambridge on Friday 16th May.
I’m an associate member of the MJA because I write a fortnightly column in the BMJ – see https://www.bmj.com/search/advanced/mcnally. I find it hugely therapeutic to describe what could be different in the NHS – where I have been working as an Orthopaedic surgeon for 30 years. It has been enlightening meeting many of you and reading your work.
I am balancing a couple of extra roles that are superficially different but have huge synergy. I am deputy director of the Centre for Perioperative Care which is trying to get care streamlined for people having operations, with better team-working, clear pathways, good preparation and shared decision making. We have shown this approach can halve complications, make for happier staff, reduce unwarranted surgery, increase sustainability, empower patients and save financial costs.
My other role is President of the Medical Women’s Federation, the largest membership organisation of women doctors and medical students in the UK. It is stunning that over 50% of licensed registered doctors are now women. Yet sexism is normal. It is often meant benevolently. But if patients and other staff are busy telling the doctor she is pretty or assuming she is the nurse, they miss their chance to ask if there are alternatives to any suggested treatment, what the risks are and how they can improve their own health. The NHS need doctors and senior clinicians, supported by a good team, to manage complexity – now that a quarter of adults have multiple co-morbidities. So, improving respect for women doctors, and supporting them in their work and into leadership roles, is not just about equality but about unleashing the knowledge, skills, experience and talent of women doctors that hasn’t yet been used maximally. This would improve the nation’s health and reduce demand on healthcare services.
Our Medical Women’s Federation conference is in central Cambridge in May, with the theme “Redefining health – with women doctors”. The MWF treasurers have allowed MJA members FREE in-person tickets for Friday 16th May, packed full of presentations and networking. We hope this will change the narrative of health reporting and allow new connections to be made. We have an adjacent room with a livestream of the conference for delegates who are breastfeeding/carers/etc and who want the in-person connection but may need to step out. The Friday is hybrid, and there is a charge for virtual attendance. You are also very welcome to book (at a cost) for the Thursday 15th May dinner, where Dr Rachel Clarke is the speaker – there are fast late trains to London if you can’t stay for the conference. There is also a Saturday 17th May international morning (£20, in-person only) about what other Northern European countries are doing to maximise women doctors’ productivity and how to reduce violence against women and girls. More info and to book at: https://medicalwomensfederation.org.uk/news-events/conference. It would be lovely to see many of you there.
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