Statement from the Society of Radiographers re Mammograms

[Mollyollydolly]

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

@SirChenjins no, I can't see the original Facebook post on men doing mammograms if I look. Deleted for me.

There's another problem, which is the "4 cancellations and you're out rule". If you are offered an appointment and cancel for whatever reason, it counts against you. Covid, being in another country, caring for a sick relative, no matter what, turn down 4 appointments and you are discharged. So if you turn down an appointment because it's with a man, that would be another strike against you.
I don't get why anyone thinks it's appropriate for any man to do mammography. Do you not have any personal boundaries?

Interesting. Sounds like this is a career move some women make because it’s one of the few areas where women will only compete with other women for promotion and therefore will never be passed over for a less well qualified man.

Given the comments about male juniors feeling slighted when women don’t want to see them, it seems likely those same men would be doubly resentful of any area where women are actually being given an advantage.

The career development and what it will do to the service as a whole is a problem.

If a man enters the mammography career path, he is more likely to get promotion opportunities - he's less likely to go part time and take career breaks. Having a family is unlikely to stop him taking career opportunities. And he wont be as crucial in the hands on side as women, so easier to promote.

That means that he's more likely to get involved in the management side , where decision are made. A man who had no consideration for women when he started his career, and did very well out of it, isnt going to suddenly see women feelings in management. So problems are going to be ignored and not made better.

And women will be continuing to be blamed for poor take up rates.

Have you any evidence for that?
And to put it another way, would it not be kind to women faced with a life threatening disease to have the reassurance of being surrounded by women?
50% of the population are women, how hard can it be to have only women doing these jobs?

The original was deleted - then a second one was started which has over 200 comments (the majority not in favour of the motion). The second one had disappeared for me, but it's reappeared on my FB.

When you e.g. have radiotherapy or go for a CT scan, you are in the same queue as patients with any other condition.

They can see patients more quickly if they can book them into any free slot.

I think they may be weeding the comments... there were 40 odd, not 200, when I looked yesterday evening and now there's just 24 (and I've manually selected "all comments", so I don't think it's FB limiting what I see eg to most recent). Thay said, most of the remaining comments still aren't supportive of the motion.

I’m still seeing them

There aren’t shortages of women wanting to do the job. It can be difficult to recruit fully trained mammographers as they tend to stay put but you aren’t in a ‘queue’ for a mammogram. Screening women get invited within the three years, and symptomatic women have a mammogram on demand if it’s clinically indicated.

@SirChenjins ah must be FB messing with me after all, then

I think you might have misread my post. I was replying to a post discussing treatment for cancer patients, and whether that can be female HCP only.

I think it would be brilliant if this were a practical way to provide a service which is at least no worse than we have today. but most people would prefer to get treated sooner, and mixed sex service my be the best way to achieve this given pp’s comments

That's actually doable for a lot of the services. An MRI for instance, noone is touching you. Mammography is unusual.

I've had several breast MRIs and there has been physical contact. The clinician has to check the breasts are correctly positioned in the machine. I've always had women foe this bit of the process (men on the other side of the screen) and they've been really sympathetic and apologetic about the discomfort and they've been careful to hold my gown in a way that doesn't make me feel like I'm exposing my breasts to unseen men behind a glass screen. I'm not sure whether that's a women-only role or if I've just been lucky.

You've misunderstood what I wrote. Someone was making the argument that screening mammograms could be done by men because aspects of breast cancer treatment are carried out by men, and I was opposing it.

I did get that, I wanted to make the point that some of us really dread receiving medical care from men. Both when it's treatment to stop/slow down cancer or look for it. Some people might think anyone would do anything to survive, but not everyone feels the same way.
I've had a couple of bad experiences with male medics that I wouldn't want to repeat, and if my life depended on it, I would be asking how much life, and really is there no woman who can do this?
And if not, why not?

In a different area but this JAMA piece would support your perspective. Experiences of care and gaslighting in patients with vulvovaginal disorders.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833711

Gaslighting and attitude have this deterrent impact, experience of poor or abusive care feels like a substantial potential multiplier.