Responding to the report in BMJ Open highlighting the gender disparity in surgery, Professor Mike Griffin OBE, President of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
“We have known for some time that surgery is a male dominated profession. Whilst women account for over half of medical school graduates, less than 15% of consultant surgeons are female and the ASGBI survey is another reminder for the surgical profession to ensure that the cultural and systemic barriers discouraging women from entering and progressing their careers are understood and challenged.
“As a Royal College, we have a duty to promote excellence within the surgical profession. Our core standards, education and training work therefore has an important role to play in challenging sexism and supporting surgeons throughout their careers.
“Similarly, we have a duty to work with NHS policy makers to tackle obstacles where they arise. We must also continue to encourage opportunities for less than full time training and working patterns that facilitate career progression for all.
"Just as we have done with our #LetsRemoveIt work around undermining and bullying, we will digest the report further in order to see how we may best work with NHS and surgical bodies to address the concerns raised.”