Part time working is key to the future

Part time working is a key issue for the future of the medical workforce, says the Medical Women’s Federation. In a report last week the federation pointed out that six in every 10 UK medical school graduates are women, more men want to alter their work-life balance, and an ageing population may want to reduce their hours before retirement.

The chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has endorsed the Medical Women’s Federation’s report on Making part-time work in the medical profession.

From interviews and focus groups with part time doctors from a variety of grades and specialties, the report claimed that part time working is essential in enabling women to stay in the medical profession. It hopes to overturn a “stereotype that ‘part time is part committed,’ and highlights those working practices which facilitate successful part time training and working.”

Key recommendations are for changes in attitudes and behaviours: more positive attitudes to part time training and working and better career development for part time doctors. It calls for practical changes, including innovative job and rota design, the integration of part time trainees into training programmes (mainstreaming), better information on how to set up a part time post, and prompt and supportive responses from employers, deaneries, and training programme directors.