Exploring the gender gap in UK helicopter emergency medical services

In UK helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), 20% of doctors and 24% of paramedics are women, yet women make up 49% of all doctors and 44% of all paramedics. One hundred and forty clinicians recruited through social media undertook an anonymous online qualitative survey exploring potential barriers and enablers, particularly for women, to following a career pathway into HEMS. Perceived barriers included: toxic, alpha, macho, boys' club HEMS cultures; bullying; discrimination; recruitment issues involving biases, fitness tests and degree of competition; HEMS communications depicting elitism and a lack of diversity; and poor work-life balance. Women feared skill fade and both women and men reported that exposure to traumatic incidents deterred them. Perceived enablers included: paid, rostered time to study and attend charity events; supportive or forgiving families; a lack of care commitments; and employers offering flexible working/contracts for less than full-time hours. This research may provide the opportunity for organisations to review diversity within their teams. A recommendations document has been produced that may help to close the gender gap within HEMS.