Members of both the Medical Women’s Federation (MWF) and Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) have expressed their distaste to the comments made by retired surgeon Dr J Meiron Thomas last week during his appearance on Times Radio, as reported by the Independent. We were reluctant to give these views more airtime, but the strength of feeling galvanised us to speak out against these damaging and outdated views.
Thomas spoke of the increasing number of female doctors in the UK workforce as problematic, because “of course, women have got to have babies. They’ve got to have time to bring up their children. What they do is they work part time and they job share and at the end of the day we have to educate two women to get one full time equivalent.”
He went on to say “in general practice, most of the women are working part time and that is one of the reasons why patients cannot get access to the same GP all the time”
Blaming the shift in workforce demographics as the reason patients cannot see their GP is a blinkered view which ignores the true complexity of general practice in 2025 – chiefly an increasing population, combined with underfunding, closing practices and a declining workforce – DAUK have campaigned extensively on this.
In general practice, women make up 53% of the GP workforce, and have one of the highest gender pay gapsof any UK profession. Research last year by the university of Manchester showed that the fall in full time equivalent GPs was driven by male doctors reducing their working hours. GP’s are long overdue a rebrand in what is defined as part-time, but in terms of workload and admin burden, 8 clinical sessions from 20 years ago is probably equivalent to about 5 sessions now, and this huge increase in unpaid overtime is reflected in the number of GPs of both sexes reducing their sessions.
We know that sexism in medicine is rife, with 91% of women doctors responding to a BMA survey in 2021, reporting sexism at work. Women taking part said they suffered patronising comments, judgement on their appearance and stifled career progression in favour of male colleagues. Assuming women doctors will all birth children and stop working is reductive, and fails to acknowledge the caring responsibilities doctors of both sexes hold – and should be supported with.
Rather than criticising women in medicine, we should celebrate their contribution and foster workplace cultures that enable all parents and caregivers to continue to provide excellent care. Research shows that patients treated by female surgeons experience better outcomes, and those cared for by female physicians have lower mortality rates.
Dr Matt Kneale, Co-Chair DAUK said:
“Dr Thomas’s comments are out of touch and downright damaging. As a male doctor, I see every day how women in medicine carry the weight of patient care – often squeezing in work around the pressures of family life. Blaming maternity leave and part-time hours for NHS pressures is a smokescreen that distracts from the real issues of chronic underfunding, brutal rotas and virtually zero support. We should be striving to tear down barriers – not slamming the door in women’s faces.”
Dr Sarah Matthews, Vice-President MWF said:
“Dr Thomas seems ill informed as to the recent workforce data. This shows that in real terms there has been a decrease in full time equivalent GPs since 2015 of over 1,000 and this is much more likely to be the reason why access to the GP has decreased over this last decade.
We believe, contrary to his view, that bringing a higher proportion of women and looking for broad representation in the workforce to reflect the society it is treating, is something to be celebrated. He is looking back to a rose-tinted past; we stand for a positive future.”
Dr Sarah Jacques, Co-opted member for campaigns MWF and GP Lead DAUK said:
“Dr Thomas’ remarks are not only outdated and offensive—they are dangerous. Denigrating women in the workplace, especially in public forums, helps legitimise a culture in which sexism is normalised and abuse is more likely to occur.
Women in medicine already face significant structural barriers, including a persistent gender pay gap, limited access to flexible working opportunities, and underemployment. But beyond these challenges lies an often-overlooked reality: female health care professionals are at higher risk of domestic abuse.
The Medical Women’s Federation and Doctors’ Association UK are working together on a campaign to raise awareness of this issue. The abuse of women does not happen in a vacuum—it is sustained by workplace cultures that tolerate misogyny and dismisses the lived experiences of women. Sexist remarks like those made by Dr Thomas contribute to an environment where abuse, both inside and outside the workplace, is more likely to be minimised or ignored.”
Dr Ellen Welch, Co-opted member for campaigns MWF and co-chair DAUK said:
“Part time, flexible working is part of how our society functions today, and we need to embrace it and support it within a modern NHS, for both sexes. Commentators who feel women are culpable for the problems in the NHS show how out of touch they really are and both our organisations welcome the opportunity to present the above evidence on our workforce.”
Ms Helen Fernandes, Co-chair DAUK said:
“Dr Thomas should reflect carefully on his comments and rely on actual facts rather than biased, mis-held beliefs. He should perhaps look to the extensive support the Royal College of Surgeons has given female surgeons by creating WiNS (Women in Surgery) which encourages females to join the surgical workforce and supports their lifelong careers – including all things maternity and childcare related. As chair of WiNS for over 6 years this organisation went from strength to strength – despite the views of this long retired surgeon.”
Prof Jane Dacre, President MWF responded with this blog:
https://medicalwomensfederation.substack.com/p/there-is-still-hostility-towards?r=1l79cr
Please consider adding your signature to this open letter to the editor of The Independent written by GP and MWF member Dr Louise Clarke
