Vol. 14 No. 1 (2021): Year of the Nurse
Articles

A Review of Differential Attainment in Recruitment in the UK Medical Profession: Bridging the Gap - Thematic series on Tackling Differential Attainment in Medical Profession 20-21

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  • Jyothi Srinivas,
  • Akhila Panda,
  • Alison Ferguson,
  • Saman Zaman,
  • Shevonne Matheiken MRCPsych ,
  • Sarthak Bahl,
  • Umakanth R Kempanna,
  • Faisal Hasan MD MRCP,
  • Veeresh Patil,
  • Indranil Chakravorty MBBS PhD FRCP
Jyothi Srinivas
Miton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
Bio
Akhila Panda
University of Buckingham Medical School, UK
Bio
Alison Ferguson
University of Buckingham Medical School, UK
Bio
Saman Zaman
St Georges University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK
Bio
Shevonne Matheiken MRCPsych 
Northamptonshire NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton, UK
Bio
Sarthak Bahl
Bio
Umakanth R Kempanna
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK
Bio
Faisal Hasan MD MRCP
Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
Bio
Veeresh Patil
Miton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
Indranil Chakravorty MBBS PhD FRCP
St Georges University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK
Bio
capt Tom Moore by Aria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38192/14.1.12

Published 2021-02-08

Keywords

  • differential attainment,
  • medical professions,
  • Bridging the Gap,
  • BME

How to Cite

Srinivas, J., Panda, A., Ferguson, A., Zaman, S., Matheiken, S., Bahl, S., Kempanna, U. R., Hasan, F., Patil, V., & Chakravorty, I. (2021). A Review of Differential Attainment in Recruitment in the UK Medical Profession: Bridging the Gap - Thematic series on Tackling Differential Attainment in Medical Profession 20-21. Sushruta Journal of Health Policy & Opinion, 14(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.38192/14.1.12

Abstract

Differential attainment is the phenomenon where groups of people, in this case, members of the medical profession, experience differences in their achievement based on factors which are beyond their control. There are multiple contributory factors including gender, age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic and disability. The evidence suggests that medical professionals from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, women, those with a disability, international medical graduates, those from low socioeconomic status and from geographical low participation (in higher education) areas tend to find barriers in every stage of recruitment to medical schools and later during their careers. There is emerging data over the last 5 years (post-2014) of organisations such as General Medical Council, Medical Schools Council and members of the Academy of Royal Colleges that are striving to offer transparency and annual reports which offer the opportunity for reflection and self-assessment.

 

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin has been leading a collaborative initiative with the ‘Alliance for Equality in Healthcare Professions’ to tackle the full range of differential attainment. This collaboration brings multiple stakeholder organisations and grassroots bodies around the table with international experts in reviewing the evidence, the data from focus groups and working to develop tangible, SMART interventions to address these disparities. This review on DA in recruitment is one of six such themes which will constitute the ‘Bridging the Gap’ report due in line with the Silver Jubilee celebrations of BAPIO in September 2021. The report will present evidence-based, consensus on recommendations for action at national, regional and local level and areas for further collaborative research.

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