The pay gap between male and female doctors working for the NHS has been cited as “evidence of discrimination” by a report.
An overall average salary gap of £15,000 between men and women among the UK’s NHS doctors was revealed by the British Medical Association (BMA) study. Although half of the disparity was put down to age and experience, around half was put down to discrimination.
The research said: “Our results show that men and women with identical experience and expertise are paid differently – which suggests evidence of discrimination.”
Female consultants typically earn £5,500 a year less than their male peers, while female junior doctors earn approximately £2,000 less than their male equivalents.
“Some of this pay gap can be explained by the fairly recent influx of large numbers of women into the medical workforce and the fact that many have not yet reached the higher levels of the career ladder,” said a BMA spokesman.
“However, despite this, there is evidence of discrimination, especially in the continued failure of the NHS to provide adequate support to women either beginning or with families.”
Copyright © Press Association 2009
