Surgery, pregnancy and parenthood

We believe in supporting surgeons during pregnancy and throughout parenthood. In 2019, we scrapped membership fees for those on parental leave.

Below we have signposted key areas to consider and useful resources.

Working while pregnant

A risk assessment must be carried out, and arrangements made to mitigate any risks identified. You may wish to take advice from Occupational Health. You are entitled to paid leave to attend all your maternity appointments, including parenting classes
The law allows a pregnant woman to decide whether to adjust her duties for X-ray exposure
Ultimately, you can decide what is right for you e.g. when to stop on calls or night shifts
Don’t forget to submit a MATB1 certificate to your employer. This will be provided by your GP or midwife at 20 weeks and enable you to claim Statutory Maternity Pay
Find out more about pregnant employees' rights

Leave

Maternity leave

Any NHS employee is entitled to Maternity Leave, for up to 12 months. It can start 11 weeks before the baby is due, and you continue to accrue pension contributions and annual leave
You must let your employer know, in writing, at least 15 weeks before the baby is due, of the date you intend to start your maternity leave
You can attend optional, paid Keep in Touch days

Other types of leave

You may be eligible for up to two weeks of paternity leave if you tell your employer at least 15 weeks before the baby is due, find out more.
Find out more about shared parental leave and pay
Find out more about adoption leave and surrogacy

Returning to work

You need to give your employer at least 28 days notice of your intention to return
The Health and Safety rights of pregnancy also apply a woman who is breastfeeding or has given birth within the last 12 months. If you are breastfeeding, plans for expressing milk e.g. a private space, time and cool storage should be identified as part of a back to work assessment
You have a right to return to your job under your original contract or you may choose to return less-than-full-time. Read more about flexible training or working, or contact careers@rcseng.ac.uk
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has “return to practice” guidance for anyone who has been away for over three months for any reason
Childcare, whether your partner, a nursery, a nanny, family, friends or other support should be planned ahead, and back-up plans made in case of unexpected emergencies

The above content is correct as of November 2019. Please be advised that facts may change and you should always refer to the current gov.uk guidelines.

Parents in Surgery report and Diversity site.

In March 2021, the Kennedy Review made a series of 16 recommendations designed to deliver ambitious changes and make a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within our College and the wider surgical profession. A key recommendation was to deliver a flagship Parents in Surgery project to help current and prospective surgeons balance parenthood and a surgical career.

We've launched a new site dedicated to showcasing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, activity and initiatives. Check out our new page for Parents in Surgery and read our recommendations that may mitigate the challenges faced by parents in surgery.