In Australia fewer than one in five obstetricians and gynaecologists are women. The proportion at the Royal Women's Hospital is closer to one in three. Over half of our junior medical staff are women.
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We understand that some women feel more comfortable with a female doctor or health carer when talking about having a baby, sexual health matters or when they need to have a vaginal examination. Sometimes you will see a female doctor, but other times it will not be possible.
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We have prepared this information sheet to explain why you will not always be able to see a female carer.
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Our medical teams are organised so that care can be given as safely and promptly as possible to all women who attend the Women's. All our medical staff are rostered to work according to their skills and experience.
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Every doctor on duty has a set of tasks and is given a number of patients to care for. When doctors are called away from their rostered duties, their patients have to wait longer for their care, or may even have their health put at risk. All our patients will receive the best care when all doctors are able to perform their rostered duties. This means we cannot usually meet your request to see a doctor other than the one who is rostered to care for you.
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All our doctors, male and female, and our students are trained to be respectful and to treat your personal information confidentially. These days they are also trained specifically to understand and respect the concerns some women may have about cultural and gender issues. All our male and female doctors receive the same training, so are equally prepared to provide you with excellent care.
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Part of our responsibility at the Royal Women's Hospital is to train future doctors, midwives and other health professionals, so that your children and future generations will receive good health care. When you allow both male and female staff, and students, to care for you, you are helping to make sure that all our doctors are fully trained.
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When will it be possible to see a female doctor?
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We usually cannot meet a request for a female doctor in these places:
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- Operating theatres: this includes elective surgery
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We sometimes cannot meet a request to see a female doctor in these situations:
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- If a woman has a medical problem requiring specialist care. It is not always possible because some of our doctors are more senior and have more experience in particular specialist areas. Also, there are times when only one doctor with the right skills for your particular needs is available. The best doctor for your needs may be male.
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- If you have an urgent needfor an appointment or care, the doctor rostered to provide such care may be a male.
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- If a doctor is called away for an emergency or is on sick leave.
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If you have specific concerns about seeing a male or female doctor, you are able make an appointment to see a midwife to discuss this.
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We are usually able to meet a request to see a female health professional in these situations:
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- Pregnant women with no health problems can usually have most of their care during pregnancy and birth provided by midwives, most of whom are female. However if complications arise, it will be necessary to see the most appropriate doctor on duty. This doctor may be male or female, but will provide the best care.
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- Women who are attending the hospital for a general health check-up , who do not have symptoms, may be able to attend the Well Women's Service or the Women's Health Assessment Clinic Midwives, most of whom are female, staff these services.
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- Women who are prepared to wait longer to see a doctor may make an appointment to see a female doctor, but only a limited number of these appointments can be reserved. These appointments usually need to be made well in advance and even then, for any number of reasons; the doctor may not be available on the day.
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Please note that this will sometimes apply to other health care workers as well.
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When you are worried about having a vaginal (internal) examination
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Many women will not need to have a vaginal examination, especially for pregnancy check-ups. Ask the midwives how likely it is that you will need a vaginal examination.
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You can choose not to have a vaginal examination although sometimes it is the only way for a doctor understand your problem. It is usually important that the same person you talk to about your health concerns also does the vaginal examination.
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If you do need to have a vaginal examination, you are able to have another person with you. This may be a friend or relative, a midwife or other female staff member.
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Although we can sometimes meet your request for a female doctor, it is important that you know that we cannot guarantee a female doctor at every appointment.
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Finally
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If you have any concerns about your care, have experienced any problems, or if you have any suggestions on ways we can improve our care or the training our staff or students receive, you can contact the consumer advocates to discuss your concern. Consumer advocates are able to help you with any concerns you may have about hospital staff or care while attending the hospital. The Consumer Advocate can be contacted by phone on (03) 8345 2290 or (03) 8345 2000.
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You can also call language services and ask for their assistance in speaking with the consumer advocate. Call (03) 8345 3054.
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 This fact sheet is also available in: Arabic, Assyrian, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Khmer, Russian, Serbian, Tigrinian, Turkish, Vietnamese
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