Women and clinical oncology

Abstract

In the United Kingdom 20% of consultants and 23% of senior registrars are female. A questionnaire sent to female clinical oncologists revealed that 90% have full-time contracts, although 36% had spent time in part-time training. Sixty-seven per cent of the total have children and the husbands of 51% of the 74% who are married are doctors. Twenty-four per cent believe they have experienced sexual discrimination in clinical oncology and 10% believe they have failed to be appointed to a post because of their gender. Problems highlighted were of inadequate funding for locums to cover maternity leave and poor child care facilities.