Marriage No Barrier

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 2

Marriage No Barrier

(Because women were marrying younger there was an increasing tendency to limit the number of female students admitted to British medical schools, Di 4 Elizabetth Baxendine, a retired Scottish general practitioner, said iin Christchurch yesterday.

However, she does not consider .'marriage any barnier to .carrying on in (medicine. “I was manned myself. My ihudbund Hnd I were ipartmers <in a (practice,” Raid Dr Daxendine.

‘T -tape imany morejwomen bseome doctors. Medicine is such a stimulating, satisfying life," she -said. “(But it’s hard work.” Dr Baxendine began practising in 1924, seven years before her marriage. Her family encouraged her in her studies, and she did not encounter prejudice from patients. “Men .were used to women doctors in the war years, and they and their families accepted me readily.” 'Partnership Ideal When she married, Dr Baxendine .continued using her maiden name and found professional partnership with her husband ideal. Although professional disagreement .was inevitable and very natural at times they were able to share problems and gain from each other. In .her years in medicine Dr ißaxendine found the British

national health scheme excellent from the patient’s point of view. “It relieves people from the anxiety that they may be running up a bill they cannot pay. Sometimes it is misused through ignorance, but on the whole it is a good scheme for patients,” she said. Third Trip Since her retirement several years ago Dr Baxendine has been indulging her love of travel. Her visit to New Zealand with Dr Mary Esslemont is her third trip around the world. Now a senior active member in the Edinburgh Soroptimist Club, her category in the club has been filled by a general practioner in her late 30s “who has made her mark” in Edinburgh medicine. The club has a majority of older members but some young women were now filling very responsible posts. One new member is a lecturer in art at the teachers’ college in Edinburgh and has had works exhibited. She is not yet 30. While she is in Christchurch Dr Baxendine is staying with a cousin, Mr T. Baxendine. When she and Dr Esslemont visit the North Island Dr Baxendine will also visit relatives.