In article <00db01bdf519$76d68640$21eea8c2@compaq-4000>, Abayomi McEwen
<[log in to unmask]> writes

>I can't let this pass, Katie. 

I tend to play devils advocate.

I expected to be shot down.

But...
 
> I am very interested in money simply because I want to be
>paid for my experience, the responsibilty I take and the hours I do.

Agreed.

>To describe part time female drs the way you have is
>gratuitous.

Apologies for upsetting.

>  What of the men who are part time because they spend time on
>important committees like the ones that have landed GP where it is?  that's
>ok?.

I do not feel I have the experience to comment on men.

>  But if you are like I had to be and focus on your work, no tea breaks,
>no wife to go home to lunch to, so that you can be at that school gate at
>15:30 you're not pulling your weight.

Not exactly what I said.

I go home some lunchtimes, not to have lunch, but to put the washing in,
do ironing, walk the dogs, run the hoover round, prepare supper, etc.

My children are ill at school I have to pick them up like any other
mother. They have an INSET day I have to pay for childcare. I take them
to hospital appointments between surgeries and housecalls.  Etc.

But I give what I feel is a full commitment to the practice - includes
several hours many weekends on admin aspects. 

I don't think it is possible to divide *own time* from *practice time*.
 
 
>  Many part time women can't attend
>practice meetings because they are held on their day off or at 08:30 when
>they are sorting out the family.

But they are thus defining days for family time, and it is they who are
choosing not to give that to the practice.  It is far more difficult to
do that when full time.  The only real *own time* for a full timer is
when you are asleep.

>  So they miss out on becoming involved in
>the wider aspects of GP.

By choice.
And it is reasonable that this should be reflected in renumeration.


>  How many are allowed study leave?

In our practice part timers have same study leave.
But do they not have more time to fit it in? ;-) (devil mode on)

>  Part time
>female doctors keep a lot of practices going.

Yes.
They are a valuable clinical asset.


>  Perhaps we as a profession
>should set an example and show that we value our part time colleagues not
>try to exploite them as i have so often seen.

I DO agree here - nobody should be exploited.

But hang on a minute - to raise another thorny issue - why should male
partners suffer when it comes to the question of maternity leave ??? 

But this could get nasty so maybe that should be ignored? ;-)

-- 
Katie


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