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

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

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

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 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.

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.

Do you think men only abuse women they fancy?

Even 1 man is 1 man to many

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

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.

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?

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.

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...

And probably brags about it in the pub

I that bloody word "inclusive" makes an appearance.

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.

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

EDI - empowering perverts in workplaces worldwide.

The Society (trade union) and college (professional body) of Radiographers require the mass of their (female) membership to bow before the altar of woke. This is why they even allowed this motion to be offered up, then even voted upon at national congress. Then so amateurishly publicised this to infer ‘men will do your mammogram’ (many young, ideological, sadly often female staff back this).

This union require me to ask a drunk, hairy, six foot 1 bloke, called Stan, of a Saturday night, if he might be pregnant, before I can X-ray him. He must sign, and SO MUST I. The union, to whom I pay my dues, will not support me if I do not do this.

But, the biggie, young women, my ‘line managers’, late twenties/early thirties, many with young daughters themselves, will, on Monday morning, CHECK I have compiled with this diktat.

This is where we are with this nonsense.

The S/CoR are not fit for purpose.

They're getting a better service. They are getting seen faster because I am taking a slot which they would never have been able to take in the first place?

I think they should make a decent stab at polling the demographic of women who are currently or will soon be having mammograms what they think before training up a load of men.

I think what is being said is, for instance if 9 out of 10 women would only consider seeing a female mammographer, and lets say there was only the budget to employ 3 in whatever hospital etc.

If 1 of the 3 employed is now a male, then 1/10th of women would get really speedy access as 3/3 of the mammographers would be available to them, whilst the other 9/10ths of the women are now vying for appointments from 2 mammographers rather than the 3 they would have had before.

if this extra male came as an addition to the existing stock of mammographers in whatever facility so there were 3 female and 1 make then I wouldn’t mind but when is that ever the case with the NHS?

Wrong their getting a worse service because a man took a place on the training course that should have gone to a woman, he's also taken an experienced female member of staff out of service whilst he gets on the job training from her, then theres the cost of female staff to act as chaperone for this man, those staff costs come from an already underfunded service which means that they are unable to employ more radiographers all.of which actually means a worse service for everyone but particularly for those women who can have a man do this.
Oh and that slot that you can take that they never could should not legally exist as all appointments must be equally available to all women who need them and not just for a privileged lucky few. What you are advocating is a two tier cancer diagnostic and treatment system based on who is willing/able to let a man preform her mammogram whilst taking resources away from women who can't

This makes sense . I’m one of those who doesn’t care but if people do care they should be able to choose .
I would prefer a highly trained person and will choose any professional on their competences not their gender .

Pathetic comment

I was raped and sexually abused in my first marriage. If it was a man then I can’t have the screening whether that be a mammogram or gynaecological procedures. Even when it is a women my GP has to give me diazepam.

How about having some empathy