Female doctors ‘are facing pay discrimination’

Posted 11/11/2009

Female doctors may have a case to make compensation claims for discrimination after a British Medical Association (BMA) report revealed a salary discrepancy between men and women.

Findings from the study have revealed that an average annual pay gap of £15,245 exists between male and female consultants, while junior women doctors are also being underpaid relative to men.

Study co-author Anita Holdcroft, a former BMA medical academic staff committee co-chair, said that ministers and medical professionals must take action to combat this inequity.

She suggested the implementation of salary audits, as well as revisions of the processes used to determine pay allocation within the NHS.

Ms Holdcroft said: “Women are not getting a fair deal in some areas, despite the fact we are now living in 21st century Britain.”

The Fawcett Society last month revealed that one in three compensation claims for discrimination are made because of pay inequality.