Five members of the Medical Women’s Federation (Professors Scarlett McNally and Melanie Davies, and Drs Amanda Owen, Julie Rutter and Clarissa Fabre) attended the MWIA Triennial Congress held in Cairo in October 2025. We enjoyed lively and thought-provoking panels, presentations and discussions. Several members enjoyed seeing the pyramids, riding a camel, visiting the Egyptian Museum, and cruising along the Nile to Luxor and Aswan.
MWF in conjunction with The Doctors’ Association UK launched a new campaign on 25th November to shine a light on the high levels of domestic abuse amongst female health care professionals. After 16 days of activism, the first NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day took place on December 10th. It was a great success. More than one in five people in England and Wales has experienced domestic abuse. Rates are especially high among female healthcare professionals with research suggesting they are three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than the average person in the UK. The NHS is one of the world’s largest employers. In England it employs 1.7 million people, almost three quarters of whom are women. These figures underline the likelihood that domestic abuse is affecting staff in every part of the health service. NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day aimed to ensure that the same culture of care extended to patients is offered to the workforce. Our campaign shared resources, survivors’ stories and actions for NHS organisations. See www.medicalwomensfederation.org.uk
The MWF Spring Conference, with the theme ‘Women in Leadership’ will be taking place on 8th May 2026 in Coventry. You are all very welcome and may register your interest here.
Fig.1. UK delegates in Cairo with Dr Kate McCann, delegate from Ireland celebrating Scarlett’s birthday
Fig.2. Preparing for the parade of flags
Fig.3. Mingling with Western Pacific region members at their welcome dinner