Allow Male Workers to perform mammograms and breast screening

[CrakdEgg]

OK, so the Society & College of Radiographers have their annual delegates conference, where members bring forward motions for the union to lobby on.
In the past they have passed motions to 'remove gendered language' from health communications for inclusivity - you know, 'pregnant people' and the like. They then lobby behind the scenes to the Government to follow these requests.

This year we have this motion -

Allow Male Workers to Perform Mammograms

Workforce shortages: there are 15 posts for mammographers on NHS jobs. In the UK.

But are we bothered? Do we not want males in this space, or does it not matter because we have male gynaecologists? Or will it dissuade women from attending?

I am interested to hear other people's opinions. My instincts say 'no way Jose', but I am interested in keeping males out of female spaces, so I accept my bias.

Thoughts?

no, "require" is correct. A request can be refused, a requirement cannot be refused.

My first thought that this is a terrible idea and then remembered that we have male gynaecologists. I caught myself thinking 'but they're doctors - that makes a difference'. I'm giving that some thought because while it feels like it does, I'm not sure why I feel like that. Every time I've had a colposcopy with a male gynaecologists, though, I've had a female colposcopist and a female health care worker/nurse in the room and the option to take a partner in too - I believe that's not allowed for many mammogram places

Yeah…my point was, I’m not thinking about the trans women as such, I’m just saying it clearly isn’t a female only space already because these men will be in it.

Surely the answer is really easy - women can either choose first appointment with any radiologist or first appointment with a female radiologist. The second might (or might not) result in a longer wait but it means women who have no problem with it get the benefit or more radiologists being trained in mammograms and those who, for whatever reason, are uncomfortable with a male radiologist get seen by the gender of their choice?

Indeed.

Some women require it and will not seek the healthcare they need if they are unable to access single sex care because they find male hcp for certain situations just so objectionable.

A chaperone is a laughable 'solution'.

Not to derail, but I talked about this with a technician once. Males do get mammograms and because they have less breast tissue, its very painful for them. Additionally its only done when its fairlt certain that they do already have cancer. They do use the same facilities but because they are always on the cancer fast track, they probably won't use the truck in a carpark facility....at least that's the system round me.

No, not in the NHS but I prefer to be able to choose my doctor so don't use the NHS for most things.

It’s disappointing isn’t it? Because if they are women it’s a shame they can’t show some empathy for those women who may have had vastly different life experiences to them. I also don’t like the porn adjacent language when discussing medical procedures, but no doubt they would tell us we’re just repressed or prudish, like we haven’t heard that before!

DD is a radiographer. There are far more female radiographers than male, like most caring roles.

There are literally dozens of modalities to specialise in for radiographers, I have absolutely no idea why a man would seek to choose mammography over the many others available.

I also found my mammograms far more embarrassing and uncomfortable than giving birth and having my bits inspected by a load of student doctors.

If there are unfilled vacancies, the trust needs to make the role more attractive, I suspect they have other unfilled vacancies too but let’s pretend that opening up mammography to men will solve the problem.

The SOR is also captured, but hopefully the recent Supreme Court ruling may put a stopper in this ridiculous idea.

Men are dying in their thousands from prostate cancer because they don't want to go and have the 'finger up the bum' check . John Turnbull ( BBC newsreader) put it off for years and passed it off as nothing. By the time it was so bad he had to go it was too late and he sadly died. My husband ( 63) has just been for a check. It was just a blood test at this point because ño other indicators were found. Men and women are often put off going for checks that could find something whilst it's still small. We need to allow people , whether male or female, to see a health care professional they feel comfortable with. If men/ transwomen start doing mammograms the take up rate will fall through the floor.

Because what we should be focusing on is training more female radiologists rather than bringing males into a female area. Many mammograms are carried out in community screening units - how would you propose to operate them and ensure equity of access if a male radiologist was the only radiologist at that unit (all or some of the time)?

So your post isn’t really relevant then is it? We’re talking about the vast majority of women who do have to use the NHS, and their choices.

I don't think that is necessarily true provided that women are given an absolute right to choose.

Think they should potentially be allowed, but with strict regulation: there should always be a female companion present and the patient should have the right to decline (before and on the day) and a female radiographer available. Consent lies with the patient so those that really could care less can use the male clinicians, those of us who would find it distressing can decline.

One of my work colleagues was involved in a court case a few years ago as a result of her male GP being caught filming intimate exams on women via a hidden camera. One of whom was her. She was absolutely distraught as would be expected. I’m very reluctant to see a male GP now so certainly wouldn’t want any man involved in an intimate procedure where I’d be semi naked.

I don't want a boobie sandwich done by a man.
The lady that did mine was lovely (exploratory mammogram) but the procedure is undignified and uncomfortable, lots of manhandling of breasts.

I have CPTST , I understand this plays a part in my opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs.

Any time a male health professional is in a room with a female doing any sort of examination it puts both of them at risk hence the need for the option of a chaperone.
Relating to my examination I cannot see where the chaperone could have been in the (very small space) to actually see what was going on anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

So your post was irrelevant - given that the vast, vast majority of mammograms are carried out in the NHS.

Which private healthcare service gives you a choice of gender - do you get a menu to choose from?

The fact that male blood tests have been developed because of a lack of willingness to go for examinations says it all.

There isn't the same willingness to do this for women. Women are still supposed to suck it up. It's another form of sexism.

It is possible to develop these tests and roll them out. It just hasn't happened though.

My thoughts are turning this way. I didn't think that at the start, but the subsequent actions make me feel that this is an agenda where women's views are not welcome.
I feel like there's a 'soft launch' happening.

I noticed the BBC are now reporting this today - very one sided with Sally who doesn't mind but no real counterpoint. Reality is that while some women don't mind - this will put many more off of going - myself included.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c367ykjzl5go

That’s a two tier health system isn’t it? So SA survivors or women from certain religions or just women who don’t want a male practitioner for an intimate exam get to wait longer?!

So if women say no their outcomes could be worse? That sounds like misogyny to me.

I think the difficulty arises when men start doing these roles is when women want to exercise their right to request a female practitioner this is considered to be an inconvenience or unreasonable or it’s not made clear to them beforehand and they turn up to the surprise of a male practitioner and feel too awkward to walk away. You can see this attitude in this thread (on a feminist board) so you can imagine how much worse it would be IRL.

The BBC can't even bring themselves to use the word woman on their piece about this on Breakfast - "mammograms offered to all those registered as female with their GP."

The word is women. Is it now considered rude or something?

So, we're back to one view, no debate? Or am I over-reacting? Is this just the BBC, good old 'impartial' BBC?

My male GP was found to have pornography on his work computer ( child porn and snuff porn featuring women). He always came across as weird and , if I had a issue that required me to remove anything more than a sock, I always booked an appointment with a female GP. It only came out because his wife was divorcing him and he sued for full custody of the children. I dare say he'd still be wanking at work if she hadn't divorced him.