Female GPs trainees outnumber their male counterparts by more than 2:1 across the UK and women are now in the majority for all age groups under 50 in the general practice workforce
Official figures from the GMC's GP register show the extent to which the profession is set to be dominated by women in the coming years, and reveal increasing diversity overall.
Among GP trainees across the UK, 69% are now women, figures from the GMC's annual state of medical education and practice (SOMEP) report.
GMC data show that women now represent 63% of GPs under 40, 56% of GPs aged 40-49 and 37% of those over 50. Female GP trainees outnumber males more than two to one, and altogether women account for just over 50% of the profession UK-wide.
Although there are more female medical students than male overall, these numbers mark a contrast to other medical professions which remain largely male dominated.
Some 71% of surgeons in training are male, as are 55% of opthalmologists.
The figures also show that the GP profession is becoming more ethnically diverse. The number of black and minority ethnic (BME) GPs has risen by almost a quarter (22%) since 2010, compared to a profession-wide increase of just 4%.
Source:
GP Online