Women doctors less likely to hold top positions

WOMEN hold just 26% of medical consultant posts and only outnumber men at senior level in the area of psychiatry.

Figures presented by sociologist Dr Evelyn Mahon at the Irish Medical Organisation's (IMO) annual general meeting showed even though 79% of entrants to medicine are female, men are more likely to progress to the highest levels.

In a talk entitled Medicine Gender and working practice: working mothers and caring fathers, Dr Mahon said a macho culture in medicine, reinforced by intensive male networking, tended to marginalise women.