Child-care facilities needed for woman doctors

Press, 18 August 1977, Page 12

Child-care facilities needed for woman doctors

\\ oman doctors should show the lead in getting hospital child-care facilities for their young woman colleagues, in the opinion of Dr I'ess Brophy, an anaesthetist from Brisbane.

I Forty to fifty per cent of ; medical students in Australia were now women. If the I public were to benefit from ’their expensive training they j must be given help to stay practising in their profesi sion, said Dr Brophy in (Christchurch yesterday. ! A former dean of the Fac-j lulty of Anaesthetists of the i Royal Australasian College jof Surgeons, Dr Brophy is ; attending the first combined scientific meeting of New| (Zealand and Australian (anaesthetists. The conference has been organised by the (New Zealand Society of (Anaesthetists. I “We must look to the future,” said Dr Brophy. “The i community cannot afford to (lose these woman doctors. Yet we should not expect the Government to do everything in the child-minding area.’’ If woman doctors with young children could not arrange back-up help in the home, a creche within the hospital at which they worked was the best substitute. Mothers could deliver the children to the creche when they went on duty, and visit them during lunch hours or other breaks. Child care for New Zealand’s growing number of woman doctors was also being considering, added Dr Margaret Smith, a Christchurch anaesthetist, who is presiding at the conference. Dr Smith is the first woman to be appointed president of Ithe New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists, and is a founIdation fellow of the faculty. “NO PRIVILEGES” Dr Brophy and Dr Smith were agreed that women would have to make things happen themselves. “We don’t expect any privileges,” said Dr Brophy. “We expect to give the hospital the same service as our male colleagues.” However, she has much admiration for the way in which woman doctors with young families organised I their work and home life. Although they had to be (prepared to be flexible with their work hours, many

f found it convenient to work - sessions at the hospital and 3 not fit in private work, and 1 to work set evening duties. i Dr Brophy was the second ; woman to be elected to the ■ administrative role of dean i of the Australasian faculty (by her colleagues, who are -(New Zealand and and Australian fellows of the facJiulty. She became a fellow in s (Australia in 1957, and has iljust completed 12 years of service on the administrative i board. ; “We have never found any ! bias against women in medi- ! cine,” said Dr Brophy. "The men have welcomed us.” The first woman anaesi thetists had set high standards. so that the gen- . erations who followed were . -ccepted as capable women. Anaesthetists were in a special position which required ease of communication with many people. Working in a team, they needed an even termperament, flexibility, and adaptability. Women had occupied all offices in the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. They had been presidents and secretaries, and from the first women in Australia and New Zealand had been appointed examiners. “The only thing we haven’t been allowed to do.” she smiled, “is be treasurer.” WIDE EXPERIENCE Dr Brophy’s love of anaesthetics developed during her house-surgeon years when she used to swap duties in order to further her anaesthetic experience. She completed her training in Britain, and has worked in the United States and New Guinea. In the early 1970 s she accompanied Australian chest teams t>» New Guinea, which she found a stimulating experience. “The patients were so wonderful,” she said, “so veiy grateful.” Now that her administrative duties for the board are over. Dr Brophy is in the throes of re-evaluating her personal life. Now she is ■ looking forward to having more time to devote to her home and garden, where she

{ grows lots of tropical plants. 1 And sir expects to have I (more time for music, and to ;travel. The Christchurch II conference — “supersi organised. socially and ii scientifically” — had provided a happy opportunity » to come to New Zealand - again. An attractive. lively 1 woman Dr Brophy is not, as 5 she uuts it, “fussed about f not being married.” Dr > Smith confides: “We have tried to get her married sevf eral limes, but she won’t . have it.” ■ “Being in the medical profession,” said Dr Brophy. . “means that you can go to . conferences, or functions, or . travel about on your own . and always have friends. Our male colleagues always look after us very well. They are very good to us.” Teaching community resuscitation is one of Dr Bro- • phy’s major interests. At present she is vice-chairwo-man of the Australian Resuscitation Council, which has its counterpart in New Zealand. 1 “We teach the lay public how to react in life-threat-1 ening situations,” she explained. “Few people encounter such situations! often, and they need know-! ledge and practice in order; to act quickly.” They also need knowledge,! she added, to know when not to interfere. The person who had the ability to give aid in a drowning or heart attack was a very valuable member of the community. 1 The Australian council works with surf-life-saving associations, the St John Ambulance Association, the I Red Cross Society, and the National Heart Foundation, holding courses and classes. Drowning of children was a particular concern in Australia, especially in climates where children were swimming almost all the year. Dr Brophy approves of moves in several states to make fencing of private swimming pools compulsory. The Brisbane City Council had just passed such regulations. , ‘‘Children drown so quickly,” she said. “They 1 can sink without a sound.”