Disabled NHS doctors report ableism and denied adjustments, BMA survey finds

A British Medical Association (BMA) survey of more than 800 disabled and neurodivergent doctors and medical students has found widespread reports of ableism, harassment and unmet requests for reasonable workplace adjustments, with many respondents saying the problems have driven them to consider leaving the profession.

The survey found 53% of respondents had either left medicine in the past two years or seriously considered doing so, and more than a third reported bullying or harassment linked to disability, neurodivergence or long-term health conditions. Nearly three quarters said they had not received all the reasonable adjustments they required to perform their roles.

Individual accounts collected by the BBC and the BMA illustrate the consequences. South Wales-based Dr Alice Gatenby, who has epilepsy, said senior colleagues told her she was "not a real doctor" because she does not work night shifts and that requests to be included in weekend rotas were dismissed as "too much hassle" unless she could manage 12-hour on-call duties. Dr Gatenby said she is considering leaving medicine because she believes the system treats supporting disabled staff as inconvenient.

Norfolk-based Dr Liz Murray, who managed multiple chronic conditions while working in the NHS, said repeated refusals of requests for part-time hours and exemption from night shifts forced her to leave full-time NHS employment two years ago. She said she took locum work for the greater flexibility and has since set up a charity, Mortal and Strong, to support people with life-changing chronic conditions.

Some healthcare settings reported better practice. Tricia Roberts, a clinical nurse specialist in adult ADHD services in west Wales, said flexible working and a staff network for neurodivergent colleagues had allowed her to "be myself" at work since her diagnoses of ADHD and autism in midlife. She said additional administrative support would further improve her ability to contribute.

The BMA's Representative Body chairman, Dr Amit Kochhar, said disabled doctors and medical students are "valued and vital members of the medical workforce" and called for better awareness and support. He said a lack of disability awareness, discrimination and rigid policies, including around exams and career progression, can unfairly hinder doctors who have already overcome personal hurdles.

Advocacy groups warned of wider consequences. Leandra Craine of Disability Wales said lack of inclusion and representation in healthcare undermines the sector's ability to account for and treat disabled patients, and that a workforce that does not reflect the population it serves risks perpetuating barriers to care.

Responding to the survey, an NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership spokesperson said it records and shares adjustment needs with health boards and works with them to review reasonable adjustments, including shift patterns and night working. The Welsh government said it expects all NHS organisations in Wales to promote inclusion and that they are legally required to support disabled staff under the Equality Act.

The survey also found that disclosure could produce improved support for some: 40% of respondents said telling their employer or place of study had led to better adjustments. Nevertheless, reported experiences of stigma, repeated reassessments of disability status, and the administrative burdens of proving eligibility for adjustments were cited as ongoing barriers.

Experts and campaigners have called for clearer, enforceable policies to ensure reasonable adjustments are made without placing undue burden on staff, improved disability and neurodiversity training for managers, and more flexible rota management to retain experienced clinicians. Medical leaders say addressing these issues is not only an equality matter but also linked to staffing levels and patient safety, as losing trained doctors can worsen workforce shortages.

The BMA said it is working to address the issues highlighted in the survey and urged employers and regulators to remove unnecessary barriers that hinder disabled and neurodivergent doctors from remaining and progressing in the profession. Health boards are responsible for rota management and, where they fail to adapt shift patterns or make other reasonable adjustments, staff and campaigners say legal obligations under the Equality Act must be enforced to prevent further loss of experienced clinicians.

The accounts in the survey and interviews underscore a persistent tension between clinical workforce pressures and the need for flexible, inclusive employment practices. Doctors who have left or are planning to leave cite inflexibility and perceived stigma as central reasons, while those who remain point to the importance of workplace networks, proactive managerial support and practical adjustments for enabling them to continue clinical work.