Inadequate workplace support and a culture of ableism is threatening to force disabled and neurodivergent doctors out of the NHS, a BMA report has found.

The interim findings of a survey of doctors and medical students with disabilities, long-term health conditions or who are neurodivergent has exposed the extent to which many feel marginalised and unsupported, the association has today warned.

The study, which saw 801 doctors and students from across the UK participate, found that more than half of respondents (53 per cent) said that a lack of support had made them consider leaving the medical profession during the past two years.

Conducted by the association between 2 May and 27 May this year, the survey also found that 42 per cent of respondents say they felt that their place of work or study was not disability and neurodiversity inclusive.

34 per cent of survey participants said they had experienced bullying or harassment as a result of their disability or neurodivergence, with 56 per cent stating that ableism was a greater issue in medicine than in wider society.

Lack of support

One resident doctor told the survey of how isolated and exhausted they felt owing to the lack of support they received in their place of work.

They said: ‘It is exhausting having to fight through barriers that able-bodied or non-disabled colleagues don’t have to, all the time. I always feel on the back foot having to overcome disadvantage of disability in training, which makes it so hard to achieve the necessary progression in training.

‘It is lonely and exhausting and so wrong to have to consider leaving training because of the burden created by fighting stereotypes, bias and discrimination when I know I am completely capable of doing my job well if I had appropriate support.’

With the BMA set to publish its full report on the survey later this year, the association is calling on medical schools and employers to reflect on its initial findings and to engage with the concerns of disabled and neurodivergent doctors and students.

Performance reviews

Other findings from the survey include:

– Half of all respondents reported having to use annual leave to attend appointments related to their disability or long-term health condition

– 42 per cent said they were subjected to performance management processes owing to sickness absences

– 62 per cent of respondents said they believed that lack of support had been a barrier to their study and career progression

– 36 per cent had felt discouraged from working in a particular specialty.

Another focus of the survey was that of reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Demeaned and in fear

Under the 2010 Equality Act, employers have a statutory duty to provide reasonable adjustments to the working environment and to policies and processes in the workplace which might otherwise disadvantage disabled staff.

Despite this, 73 per cent of doctors and students responding to the survey said they had not received all their required adjustments with 43 per cent saying they had been forced to pay for reasonable adjustments out of their own funds.

One consultant told the survey of their negative experience when attempting to obtain reasonable adjustments from their employer, a process which left them feeling demeaned and fearing for their jobs.

They said: ‘The report written by access to work was very negative about me and sounded like I was incompetent at my job which made me worry should a patient complaint or serious incident occur involving me in the future.

‘I also went through occupational health advice for departments to then say if I needed this [adjustment] “I couldn’t do my job”. I had others assuming I did not need reasonable adjustments, so they were not happy to discuss things.’

Commenting on the survey’s findings, BMA representative body chair Amit Kochhar said the partial findings from the survey made for worrying and disappointing reading.

He added that, failure to address disability discrimination and shortcomings in support for doctors and medical students was hugely damaging to morale and wellbeing and to the effectiveness of the NHS.

He said: ‘Disabled doctors and medical students are present at every level of the profession, contributing as valued and vital members of the medical workforce, [yet] a lack of disability and neurodiversity awareness, coupled with discrimination and stigma, can significantly impact disabled doctors’ lives and careers.

‘Providing appropriate support is not only the right thing to do – it’s essential. Worryingly, the survey found that just 34 per cent of respondents who disclosed their disability to their place of work or study experienced improved support.

‘[Meanwhile] half of respondents reported having to use their annual leave to attend medical appointments, a clear sign that support isn't where it should be. When that support is lacking, we risk losing talented doctors from the profession altogether.’

He added: ‘This loss is detrimental to individuals, patients, and the NHS, compounding workforce retention challenges and increasing pressure on those who remain.’

These latest findings come on the back of a series of Freedom of Information requests submitted last year by the BMA which showed that many NHS trusts and health boards were failing to meet their statutory duties on support and reasonable adjustments.

The BMA is set to publish the full results of the survey, as well as recommendations in the autumn, following consultation with stakeholders. Read the interim findings