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Statistics

The proportions of female consultants and trainees are increasing steadily. In 1991, only 3% of surgical consultants were women, compared to 2024, when it was nearly 17%. However, there remains a large gap between the number of women who enter training and those who become consultants. According to the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS), 64% of people accepted into medicine and dentistry degree courses in the UK in 2020 were women. 

 Graphic with the data of how the number of female identifying consultants have grown between 1991 and 2024

Image 1. Number of consultant female surgeons based on 2024 data from NHS Digital

Graphic with the data of how the number of female identifying consultants have grown between 1991 and 2024

The percentage of consultants who are female within the following specialties, based on 2024 data from NHS Digital:

  • 13.2% Cardiothoracic
  • 22.2% General
  • 10.6% Neurosurgery
  • 22.2% Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
  • 21% Otolaryngology (ENT)
  • 28.9% Paediatric
  • 25.6% Plastic
  • 8.8% Trauma and orthopaedic
  • 14.6% Urology
  • 14.3% Vascular

More details on the numbers of women in surgery are available from NHS Digital.

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