WHAT A WASTE! WOMEN IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE Available to Purchase

Although they represent an increasing proportion of the UK workforce, the number of women occupying senior positions is still very low, and nowhere more so than in the National Health Service. Particular occupational groups within the NHS are researched here: nursing,medicine, pharmacy, clinical chemistry laboratories, and management. The findings reveal that women suffer disproportionately compared with men in their aspirations for the top jobs. Prevalent attitudes militate against this, such as stereotyping, opposition by management to women workers taking career breaks (which is an absolute necessity for some career‐minded mothers but to management suggests lack of commitment) and male‐dominated social concepts (”one of the boys”). It is concluded that NHS management must show greater flexibility in addressing the problems of women, their most valuable resource, before much needed recognition of women′s right to be treated fairly can be achieved.