The NHS and general practice workforce in England is predominately female (77% with figures for the UK health care sector being similar).

Nurses, health visitors and midwives and allied health professionals account for the highest share of women (89% and 86% respectively).

Women are disproportionately under-represented in the medical profession (37%), particularly at consultant level (26%) and among qualified ambulance staff (31%).  However, 6 in 10 managers in non-clinical areas are women, which is surprising as managment is normally a male-dominated field.  At Executive Board level women have increased their share from 33% in 2000 to 43% in 2004.  Thus targets set by the Department of Health by December 2004 were achieved.

Source: Skills for Health 2003

For information on staff by gender and trend data on the gender profile of the sector see: