Navigating the NHS and having a family

INTRODUCTION: The proportion of women entering UK medical schools has increased rapidly, with women now making up 60% of students. The changing gender composition of the medical workforce brings to the forefront the National Health Service's (NHS) need to adapt to help women thrive in the workplace. METHODS: Our Women's Clinical Network organised a free Trust-based half-day event called 'Navigating the NHS and Having a Family', open to all doctors of any gender, grade and specialty, with presentations on topics including NHS family leave entitlements and less than full-time training. Pre-event and post-event surveys collected qualitative and quantitative data. RESULTS: Pre-event, we identified a lack of knowledge regarding family leave entitlements and processes. A quarter of attendees felt it possible to have a great career and a family, pre-event. This rose to over three-quarters, post-event. We also demonstrated improved knowledge on how to navigate the NHS and have a family post-event. DISCUSSION: Changes need to be made to ensure clinicians make informed decisions when planning a family. Our half-day information session highlighted one relatively simple way in which this can be addressed. Integrating events such as ours will help disseminate information effectively and with lasting impact.