Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Statement from the Society of Radiographers re Mammograms

293 replies

Mollyollydolly · 04/05/2025 22:37

The Society of Radiographers have issued the following statement after the news story this week.
Women are already self excluding because of the coverage, women will probably die.
They have fucked up massively.
I have no words for the damage they've done.
I'd really love to know which individual proposed it in the name of diversity and inclusion.
So angry about it.
And to all the women on here who were posting they didn't care who did it, this is the result. Women self excluding.

"Recent media coverage about the role of men in mammography has caused concern for people and we want to provide reassurance and set the record straight.
The coverage followed a motion passed at the Society of Radiographers’ Annual Delegates Conference (ADC). ADC provides members with the opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of the Society. Each region and country propose motions for debate, which are voted on by delegates at the conference.
The motion in question asked the Society to explore how we could support fair access to mammography as a career, as mammography in breast screening is currently restricted to female staff.
It does not change NHS policy, and it does not mean that only male mammographers will be employed.
We understand that this coverage has led to distress and confusion, with some contacting screening services or cancelling appointments, concerned that they will be having a man perform their mammogram. We are deeply sorry for the concern this has caused and are working to provide clear and accurate information.
No changes have been made to who carries out breast screening by this motion. The breast screening experience remains:

  • A specialist called a mammographer will take breast screening mammograms.
  • The mammographer will be female.
  • They will explain what will happen at each stage, and you can ask any questions you may have.
  • Radiographers and mammographers in NHS services continue to ensure that patient care is delivered safely, sensitively, and with respect for personal, cultural, and religious needs.

Breast screening is a vital part of early cancer detection and saves lives every year. We recognise how important it is that women feel safe, respected and informed when accessing these services. Protecting trust in the screening programme is essential, and we are working with our NHS colleagues to support this. The motion passed at ADC will now go to the Society’s UK Council to decide whether any further work should be done. If it is taken forward, this will involve detailed discussions with NHS bodies, patient groups and service providers. While the Society can advocate for change on behalf of members, it does not have the authority to change NHS policy. Our intention is to support a professional, inclusive workforce while always protecting the rights and dignity of patients. Mammography screening services will continue to prioritise compassionate, people-centred care. Further updates will be shared when appropriate." https://www.sor.org/news/mammography/public-statement-mammography

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
TheUnusuallyQuerulentMxLauraBrown · 04/05/2025 23:53

Why the fuck do men need ‘inclusion’ into female single sex services?

EDI - empowering perverts in workplaces worldwide.

RedToothBrush · 04/05/2025 23:45

It does not change NHS policy, and it does not mean that only male mammographers will be employed

Why on earth have they said this as part of the statement?!

So are they saying they still intend to recruit male mammographers and that you may get a male or female one in future?!

After they have ALREADY seen a rise in cancellations as a result of this press coverage?! Do they actually give a shit about women?! They should be dropping the motion like a hot potato.

If the statement is meant to reassure, it really really doesn't.

How will people know if they reject the proposal? It will get zero publicity but women will now have had the seed of doubt sown so won't go.

They have fucked this up so so badly.

FOJN · 04/05/2025 23:41

I that bloody word "inclusive" makes an appearance.

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/05/2025 23:36

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:27

Because he gets to grope women's boobs all day and get paid for it.

A man who wants to be a mammographer is, by definition, unsuitable for the role.

Show quote history

And probably brags about it in the pub

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:33

I am sitting here facepalming at how fucking naive about men some posters are. Tell me you've never been catcalled or had your arse groped on a train or had a man stare at your tits without telling me...

GIF by Showtime
Enough4me · 04/05/2025 23:32

OneGreyScroller · 04/05/2025 23:27

I honestly couldn't care less about this, as long as I was given warning upfront.

It's an unpleasant, undignified experience anyway.

And no, this doesn't mean that everyone should be forced to have a male, but I can't see an issue with two options saying:

you can have an appointment with Mr Xxx on whenever, or the next female radiographer will be available on xxx if you would prefer to wait.

It speeds up the queue time for everyone, as there are less women then waiting in the female only queue.

It reduces spaces for women to be trained to perform the role and would mean women, myself included, having unfair delays.
I understand some women don't care but it would never be possible to ensure you take the spaces with males so we don't have to. You'd say it's fine, but leave us with the delays.

Hoardasurass · 04/05/2025 23:31

OneGreyScroller · 04/05/2025 23:27

I honestly couldn't care less about this, as long as I was given warning upfront.

It's an unpleasant, undignified experience anyway.

And no, this doesn't mean that everyone should be forced to have a male, but I can't see an issue with two options saying:

you can have an appointment with Mr Xxx on whenever, or the next female radiographer will be available on xxx if you would prefer to wait.

It speeds up the queue time for everyone, as there are less women then waiting in the female only queue.

Because it's indirect sex discrimination and thankfully illegal. Why should a rape victim get a worse service than you just because you're lucky enough to not be so traumatised by men that you could accept a man doing your screening?

OneGreyScroller · 04/05/2025 23:27

I honestly couldn't care less about this, as long as I was given warning upfront.

It's an unpleasant, undignified experience anyway.

And no, this doesn't mean that everyone should be forced to have a male, but I can't see an issue with two options saying:

you can have an appointment with Mr Xxx on whenever, or the next female radiographer will be available on xxx if you would prefer to wait.

It speeds up the queue time for everyone, as there are less women then waiting in the female only queue.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:27

outofdate · 04/05/2025 23:09

Why the fuck would a man want to train as a mammographer?

Because he gets to grope women's boobs all day and get paid for it.

A man who wants to be a mammographer is, by definition, unsuitable for the role.

Puttinginthemiles · 04/05/2025 23:25

Brefugee · 04/05/2025 22:50

i really really don't know why they just don't let you choose:

a) I'm ok with whoever does it, as long as they're qualified (poss shorter wait)
b) I want a female technician, as long as they're qualified (poss longer wait)

I disagree. If all mammography is undertaken by females, everyone is happy. How about the vacancies/shortages are resolved instead?

Hoardasurass · 04/05/2025 23:25

mumtrovert · 04/05/2025 23:16

Male radiographers can specialise into MR, CT, Nuclear Med, Ultrasound, Reporting, Fluoroscopy, Angiography, DEXA.. there’s plenty of opportunities. I honestly highly doubt that many would choose the mammography route tbh.

Edited
Show quote history

Even 1 man is 1 man to many

SidewaysOtter · 04/05/2025 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Do you think men only abuse women they fancy?

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

When male GPs abuse their positions of trust to grope female patients' tits, it's because they feel entitled to do so, not because they fancy the patient. Opening mammography to men would attract exactly that kind of abusive man.

mumtrovert · 04/05/2025 23:20

@SirChenjins no idea really. My guess would be that there’s not enough people full stop wanting to specialise in mammography at all. Maybe they think by opening it up to both sexes that they’d fill more posts .. who knows. I don’t know a single person, male or female, who’s chosen mammography as a progression path.

outofdate · 04/05/2025 23:18

I see we have several defensive men on the board tonight.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 04/05/2025 23:18

UniqueNameChange · 04/05/2025 22:52

it does not mean that only male mammographers will be employed.

That's not very reassuring. Are they saying they still employ some women but if you're unlucky you'll get a bloke?

That is a face palm moment of a statement. FFS. Is it only meant to be an issue if 100% of mammograms are carried out by men?

SirChenjins · 04/05/2025 23:17

mumtrovert · 04/05/2025 23:16

Male radiographers can specialise into MR, CT, Nuclear Med, Ultrasound, Reporting, Fluoroscopy, Angiography, DEXA.. there’s plenty of opportunities. I honestly highly doubt that many would choose the mammography route tbh.

Edited
Show quote history

In which case, why was this motion put forward and passed?

whatsit84 · 04/05/2025 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mumtrovert · 04/05/2025 23:16

BettyFilous · 04/05/2025 22:48

If women are already cancelling screening appointments because of this motion hitting the media then the Society of Radiographers should withdraw the motion. They have their answer. There are women for whom a male mammographer is not acceptable and the suggestion that they might encounter one is enough to deter women from taking up screening. Find another way to provide career enrichment and development for male radiologists. This isn’t it.

Male radiographers can specialise into MR, CT, Nuclear Med, Ultrasound, Reporting, Fluoroscopy, Angiography, DEXA.. there’s plenty of opportunities. I honestly highly doubt that many would choose the mammography route tbh.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:13

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/05/2025 22:59

Or just women?!

Show quote history

You aren't wrong, but... "patient-centred" makes it clear which women are centred.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/05/2025 23:11

Brefugee · 04/05/2025 22:50

i really really don't know why they just don't let you choose:

a) I'm ok with whoever does it, as long as they're qualified (poss shorter wait)
b) I want a female technician, as long as they're qualified (poss longer wait)

Jesus, we already had a thread on this. The NHS now refuses to even try to honour requests for female practitioners, claiming that they can't tell you whether a given colleague in a mixed-sex provider service is male or female without potentially outing them as trans, and thus will only let you ask for a practitioner of a given gender, not of a given sex. The mammography service is the only NHS service immune (so far) to this gaslighting crap because they use the Equality Act single-sex exemptions at hiring time to ensure female-only staff so that patients don't need to ask the question. Make the mammography staff mixed-sex, and patients will run into the same "can't risk outing trans colleagues" trap when requesting a female mammographer that they currently do when asking for a female nurse to carry out a smear test.

I'm not making this shit up. When Clare Dimyon wrote to her hospital to ask for guaranteed female HCPs for an intimate procedure (that might actually have been in-hospital breast screening), her letter was included without her consent in DEI training materials as an example of "transphobia" to be flagged to management.

Hoardasurass · 04/05/2025 23:10

Brefugee · 04/05/2025 22:50

i really really don't know why they just don't let you choose:

a) I'm ok with whoever does it, as long as they're qualified (poss shorter wait)
b) I want a female technician, as long as they're qualified (poss longer wait)

Nope, women must not be discriminated against, especially when it comes to cancer screening due to them being unable to have a man carry out their screening. No mans want to be a mammographer should come before the lives of women. Our bodies are not a tool for inclusion, and no woman should be told that she will have to wait longer for life saving screening or accept a man.
I honestly can't believe that you actually think that this is a reasonable suggestion instead of telling men no

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/05/2025 23:10

outofdate · 04/05/2025 23:09

Why the fuck would a man want to train as a mammographer?

Why are most gynaecologists men?!

outofdate · 04/05/2025 23:09

Why the fuck would a man want to train as a mammographer?

EmeraldRoulette · 04/05/2025 23:07

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 04/05/2025 23:03

Why is it stupid? AIUI they proposed to address a staff shortage and they were completely matter of fact in their language

No. The motion was about providing equity of career development for men rather than addressing a shortage.

In other words men's careers were to be prioritised over female privacy and dignity.

thank you