Letter: The consultants' club
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Rudolph Klein writes about the the inbred culture of the Bristol Royal Infirmary ("Tragic case that proves the need for checks on competence", 30 May). Does this arise in part because the consultant body is still largely an all-male club?
Nationally, only 19 per cent of consultants are women, and this drops to 4 per cent among surgeons, despite the fact that 52 per cent of medical students are female. Additionally, 85 per cent of women doctors have children. If these mothers had been among Mr Wisheart's colleagues, would they have permitted things to go as far as they did?
There is an immediately accessible way of changing the hospital culture: appoint more women to consultants' jobs.
JANEY HUBER FRCS
Cambridge
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments