Just 6% of surgeons working in private healthcare are women, new research shows
02 Mar 2026
New research published in The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has found that women make up just 6.2% of surgeons working across the UK’s five largest private hospital groups, compared with 16.9% in the NHS.
The research, authored by Kate Hulse (Clinical Research Fellow) and Caitlin Brennan (Trauma and Orthopaedic Registrar) shows that across all specialties, female representation in private practice is substantially lower than in the NHS, and in most specialties remains below NHS levels recorded as far back as 2012.
Neurosurgery had 2.3% women consultants, with some providers listing no women neurosurgeons at all, while in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, women made up just 2.2% of consultants. In two of the five largest hospital groups, there are more orthopaedic surgeons named David than there are women in the same specialty.
RCS England has written to the five largest independent hospital groups in the UK, calling on them to take clear and credible action to ensure the surgical workforce in their hospitals reflects the diversity and talent of the profession.
While women remain under-represented in surgery across both NHS and independent settings, the disparity is significantly greater within the independent sector across almost every surgical specialty.
The research raises serious concerns about access to surgical careers in the independent sector for women and suggests that longstanding structural barriers may still determine who is able to enter and succeed in independent practice.
Specifically, RCS England suggests that the independent hospital groups should publish transparent gender data, set targets to increase women’s representation, invest in programmes that support women entering surgery, guarantee fair access to leadership and progression, and enforce robust policies that ensure safe, inclusive workplaces free from discrimination and harassment.
Professor Felicity Meyer, consultant vascular surgeon and Chair of Women in Surgery (WinS) at RCS England, said:
“The independent sector now delivers a growing share of surgical care, yet women remain strikingly underrepresented within its surgical workforce.
“RCS England’s own work has repeatedly shown that this is not just an issue of fairness, but one that affects the resilience, safety and sustainability of the profession as a whole and ultimately impacts patient safety.
“Surgery is an immensely rewarding career, but too many barriers still shape who is able to enter, progress and lead. Removing these obstacles is essential if we are to attract and support the full breadth of surgical talent that the future workforce depends on.”
To support women in surgery, RCS England has introduced a national mentoring scheme for women entering the profession and surgically focused return to work workshops. Our Emerging Leaders Programme provides dedicated leadership development for women in surgery, and recent governance reforms ensure that at least one Vice President role will always be held by a woman, guaranteeing representation at the highest level.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. About the research: The research, by K Hulse and C Brennan analysed consultant surgeon listings across the five largest private hospital groups in the UK by admissions. Women accounted for 6.2% of surgeons across these organisations, compared with 16.9% of consultant surgeons in the NHS. Access: https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1308/rcsbull.2026.39
2. Circle and Nuffield list more orthopaedic surgeons named David (18 and 22 respectively) than female orthopaedic consultants (15 and 18 respectively)
3. We are asking each organisation to take clear, credible action, including:
a. Publishing transparent, organisation-level data on gender representation across all surgical roles.
b. Establishing resourced programmes to identify, develop and support women entering and progressing surgical careers in the independent sector.
c. Ensuring fair access to leadership opportunities, clinical exposure, and progression pathways for women surgeons.
d. Implementing and publicising robust policies that promote safe, inclusive working cultures, including clear processes for addressing discrimination, harassment (including sexual misconduct) and any barriers to progression.
4. The Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Women in Surgery (WinS) Forum supports women across all career stages by encouraging, enabling and inspiring women to fulfil their surgical career ambitions. We believe surgery should attract the candidates with the highest aptitude for surgery, regardless of gender. We aim to raise the profile of women in surgery and generate awareness of important issues; develop guidance, networks and events to support female surgeons throughout their career; engage female surgeons of all career grades with surgery and the College; showcase the varied lifestyles of surgeons including flexible training and working. Find out more at https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/careers-in-surgery/women-in-surgery/
5. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research and championing the best outcomes for patients.
6. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.
The research, authored by Kate Hulse (Clinical Research Fellow) and Caitlin Brennan (Trauma and Orthopaedic Registrar) shows that across all specialties, female representation in private practice is substantially lower than in the NHS, and in most specialties remains below NHS levels recorded as far back as 2012.
Neurosurgery had 2.3% women consultants, with some providers listing no women neurosurgeons at all, while in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, women made up just 2.2% of consultants. In two of the five largest hospital groups, there are more orthopaedic surgeons named David than there are women in the same specialty.
RCS England has written to the five largest independent hospital groups in the UK, calling on them to take clear and credible action to ensure the surgical workforce in their hospitals reflects the diversity and talent of the profession.
While women remain under-represented in surgery across both NHS and independent settings, the disparity is significantly greater within the independent sector across almost every surgical specialty.
The research raises serious concerns about access to surgical careers in the independent sector for women and suggests that longstanding structural barriers may still determine who is able to enter and succeed in independent practice.
Specifically, RCS England suggests that the independent hospital groups should publish transparent gender data, set targets to increase women’s representation, invest in programmes that support women entering surgery, guarantee fair access to leadership and progression, and enforce robust policies that ensure safe, inclusive workplaces free from discrimination and harassment.
Professor Felicity Meyer, consultant vascular surgeon and Chair of Women in Surgery (WinS) at RCS England, said:
“The independent sector now delivers a growing share of surgical care, yet women remain strikingly underrepresented within its surgical workforce.
“RCS England’s own work has repeatedly shown that this is not just an issue of fairness, but one that affects the resilience, safety and sustainability of the profession as a whole and ultimately impacts patient safety.
“Surgery is an immensely rewarding career, but too many barriers still shape who is able to enter, progress and lead. Removing these obstacles is essential if we are to attract and support the full breadth of surgical talent that the future workforce depends on.”
To support women in surgery, RCS England has introduced a national mentoring scheme for women entering the profession and surgically focused return to work workshops. Our Emerging Leaders Programme provides dedicated leadership development for women in surgery, and recent governance reforms ensure that at least one Vice President role will always be held by a woman, guaranteeing representation at the highest level.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. About the research: The research, by K Hulse and C Brennan analysed consultant surgeon listings across the five largest private hospital groups in the UK by admissions. Women accounted for 6.2% of surgeons across these organisations, compared with 16.9% of consultant surgeons in the NHS. Access: https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1308/rcsbull.2026.39
2. Circle and Nuffield list more orthopaedic surgeons named David (18 and 22 respectively) than female orthopaedic consultants (15 and 18 respectively)
3. We are asking each organisation to take clear, credible action, including:
a. Publishing transparent, organisation-level data on gender representation across all surgical roles.
b. Establishing resourced programmes to identify, develop and support women entering and progressing surgical careers in the independent sector.
c. Ensuring fair access to leadership opportunities, clinical exposure, and progression pathways for women surgeons.
d. Implementing and publicising robust policies that promote safe, inclusive working cultures, including clear processes for addressing discrimination, harassment (including sexual misconduct) and any barriers to progression.
4. The Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Women in Surgery (WinS) Forum supports women across all career stages by encouraging, enabling and inspiring women to fulfil their surgical career ambitions. We believe surgery should attract the candidates with the highest aptitude for surgery, regardless of gender. We aim to raise the profile of women in surgery and generate awareness of important issues; develop guidance, networks and events to support female surgeons throughout their career; engage female surgeons of all career grades with surgery and the College; showcase the varied lifestyles of surgeons including flexible training and working. Find out more at https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/careers-in-surgery/women-in-surgery/
5. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research and championing the best outcomes for patients.
6. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.