{"id":67962,"date":"2025-09-07T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/disabled-doctors-consider-leaving-nhs-over-shift-inflexibility\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T21:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T21:00:00","slug":"disabled-doctors-consider-leaving-nhs-over-shift-inflexibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=67962","title":{"rendered":"Disabled doctors consider leaving NHS over shift inflexibility"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jenny Rees<\/span>Health correspondent, BBC Wales<\/span><\/p>\n
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British Medical Association<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Dr Alice Gatenby has been told “it’s too much hassle” to change shifts to accommodate her disability<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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A disabled doctor, who believes the NHS sees it as “too difficult or inconvenient” to give her support, has considered leaving. <\/p>\n
Dr Alice Gatenby said senior colleagues told her she is “not a real doctor” because her epilepsy means she does not work night shifts.<\/p>\n
A survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) of more than 800 disabled and neurodivergent doctors and medical students found more than half felt ableism was a bigger issue in the medical profession than in wider society.<\/p>\n
The Welsh government said it expected all NHS organisations to support inclusion, and they were also legally required to support disabled staff through reasonable adjustments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Health boards in Wales are responsible for rotas, but NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership said as an inclusive employer it supports employers and resident doctors with adjustments needed.<\/p>\n
However, south Wales-based Dr Gatenby said: “The irony of a healthcare system being unwilling to make small adjustments for someone with epilepsy isn’t lost on me.<\/p>\n
“It feels like the system sees supporting me as too difficult or inconvenient – even if it means losing someone capable and passionate about caring for patients.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dr Liz Murray spent more than a decade working in the NHS, simultaneously managing a number of chronic conditions, but left two years ago because of the barriers she felt were put in place.<\/p>\n
The Norfolk-based doctor has lupus, severe endometriosis, bladder and bowel damage as well as hip problems, which mean she uses mobility aids. <\/p>\n
But her requests for part-time hours and no night shifts were declined.<\/p>\n
“I have a slightly dysfunctional immune system and am really susceptible to infections with big changes in life, or disruption to sleep and environmental stresses,” said the 37-year-old.<\/p>\n
“They can cause joint flare ups where I can’t walk or can’t use my hands, and it affects my vision.”<\/p>\n
She said for a long time she felt her health conditions were to blame for leaving the profession, but now feels it was the inflexibilities within the system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dr Liz Murray<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Dr Liz Murray worked for the NHS for over a decade but her requests to work flexibly to manage her own health were always declined<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Despite doctor shortages in her region, she felt she had to leave a role with sick pay and maternity benefits, and opt for locum work because it provided greater flexibility.<\/p>\n
She added: “I was seen as the problem – I realised how much of a toll it was taking on my health and had to say enough is enough.”<\/p>\n
While still working full-time, she now does so in a way that suits her needs.<\/p>\n
Dr Murray also set up charity Mortal and Strong, to better support those with life-changing, chronic conditions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dr Liz Murray<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Dr Liz Murray has set up the charity Mortal and Strong, to better support those with life-changing, chronic conditions<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The BMA’s survey found 53% of respondents had either left the profession in the past two years, or had seriously considered it. <\/p>\n
Over a third had reported bullying or harassment linked to their disability, neurodivergence or long-term health condition.<\/p>\n
However, 40% said that telling their place of work or study had led to improved support.<\/p>\n
Tricia Roberts is a clinical nurse specialist within adult ADHD services at Hywel Dda health board, in west Wales, and was diagnosed with ADHD aged 42, and autism at 47.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been privileged to work in positions where the service gets it,” said the 49-year-old.<\/p>\n
“I’m allowed to have flexible working and feel I can be myself.”<\/p>\n
However, she added if funding was available, additional admin support would allow her “to thrive”.<\/p>\n
She explained a staff network for neurodivergent colleagues across the health board was “really empowering” as people felt supported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Tricia Roberts<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Tricia Roberts said the neurodivergent staff network in her health board area had allowed many to feel better understood and supported<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Dr Gatenby added: “If I were a teacher, I wouldn’t need to go through a lengthy process to prove I’m disabled every time I changed classrooms. <\/p>\n
“But as a doctor with an invisible disability, I must prove to a disability panel that I’m still disabled every single year.”<\/p>\n
She is genuinely considering leaving medicine, but said: “I don’t want to, but what choice do I have? <\/p>\n
“And yet, I think, if I walk away, who will be left to advocate for other doctors like me?”<\/p>\n
Dr Gatenby described how senior colleagues said “you’re not a real doctor” because she cannot do on-call shifts.<\/p>\n
“Yet when I ask to be included in weekend rotas, I’m told it’s too much hassle unless I can manage 12-hour shifts straight,” she added.<\/p>\n
The BMA is trying to address the issues raised in the survey, as nearly three quarters had not received all of the reasonable adjustments they required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Chairman of the BMA’s Representative Body Dr Amit Kochhar said: “Disabled doctors and medical students are present at every level of the profession, contributing as valued and vital members of the medical workforce.<\/p>\n
“Providing appropriate support is not only the right thing to do – it’s essential.<\/p>\n
“A lack of disability and neurodiversity awareness, coupled with discrimination and stigma, can significantly impact disabled doctors’ lives and careers.”<\/p>\n
He added that those who have already overcome personal hurdles should not face additional barriers, such as rigid exam policies or being unfairly penalised throughout their careers.<\/p>\n
Leandra Craine, from Disability Wales, responded to the survey by saying: “Not only is this concerning for the healthcare sector itself but raises a significant issue when it comes to accounting for and treating disabled people.<\/p>\n
“Without the inclusion and representation of disabled people in all areas of life, society-wide empathy and accessibility will never be achieved.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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A spokesperson for NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership said: “As an inclusive employer, we support resident doctors with any adjustments they need.<\/p>\n
“We securely record and share these adjustments with the health boards where they are based to implement.<\/p>\n
“We can work with health boards to support them in this as needed.<\/p>\n
“As health boards are responsible for the rota management we actively work with them to review reasonable adjustments – including shift patterns and night working.”<\/p>\n
The Welsh government spokesperson added: “We expect all NHS Wales organisations to actively promote inclusion and they are legally required to support disabled staff through reasonable adjustments and anti-discrimination measures under the Equality Act.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"British](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/dba8\/live\/52fff580-8bf5-11f0-903d-fde5bdd29748.png.webp\")
British Medical Association<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250828-055926-c20c0c03f5-2.28.1-2\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/93ee\/live\/c6c6a180-8bf5-11f0-903d-fde5bdd29748.jpg.webp\")
Dr Liz Murray<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/bdfa\/live\/e0b3bf10-8bf5-11f0-903d-fde5bdd29748.jpg.webp\")
Dr Liz Murray<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Tricia](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a1fa\/live\/1ad3a8e0-8bf6-11f0-903d-fde5bdd29748.jpg.webp\")
Tricia Roberts<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n