ABSTRACT
Introduction Medicine as a career has seen many changes in recent decades for a variety of reasons, some driven by the profession, others by government initiatives as well as external factors. The number of women working in medicine has increased every decade since the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, and it is predicted that women doctors will outnumber men by 2012.1 Economic factors mean that many more women continue to work after becom ing parents and the high divorce rate in the UK has not escaped the medical profession, placing a financial burden on both partners. Men and women are seeking a better work-life balance and the demand for part-time and flexible ways of training and working has been turned into an increasing reality. This has been supported and encouraged by the Department of Health through the ‘Improving Working Lives' initiative.2
