Online exhibition celebrates rise of women in general practice

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This portrait, by Christian Furr, of Lotte Newman, who became a Royal College of General Practitioners examiner in 1972 and the college’s second female president in 1994, is one of the works in an online exhibition to mark the many changes in the profession since the first British women pioneers began to take formal medical qualifications 150 years ago.

“Women at the Heart of General Practice,” the college’s first online exhibition, showcases the experiences of female GPs and the wider practice team throughout history, including the discrimination and prejudice many women encountered, the rise in the number of female GPs, as well as the challenges they face today, including the gender pay gap.

Amanda Howe, the college’s current president, said, “Women have had a long and contested route into fulfilling their potential as doctors. I am proud that the RCGP has created this exhibition, which shows us some of the history and context of this journey and allows us to celebrate the contribution of women GPs to the profession and patient care.”