Only private patients can ask to see a female or male consultant

The rule came to light after a patient contacted the Guernsey Press after being told she could not request a female doctor for a gynaecological appointment.

The patient, who asked not to be named, said that due to the delicate nature of her complaint she had wanted to see someone of her own gender.

A receptionist at the Medical Specialist Group had told her this was not possible.

However when she explained she had private medical insurance, she was allowed to choose.

‘I just thought it was wrong that people without private insurance did not have that choice,’ she said.

‘You are stuck if you are not private. MSG say in their terms of reference that patients are paramount but I don’t believe that is the case.’

Obstetrics and gynaecology chairman Benjamin Thomas said it was not possible to accommodate requests for a certain gendered consultant.

‘This is also the case in the NHS,’ he said.

‘A private patient can choose to see a specific consultant, in the same way that a specific provider may be chosen in any private arrangement, whether in medicine or any other industry.’

Of the seven members of the obstetrics and gynaecology team listed on the MSG website, two are women.

Mr Thomas added that MSG aimed to see and care for patients as soon as possible, in line with its contract with the States.

‘The way we do this in obstetrics and gynaecology is to make an appointment according to availability with one of our consultant gynaecologists,’ he said.

‘All of whom have extensive clinical experience and are very skilled at putting patients at ease. We use female chaperones for any intimate examination.’

‘However if a patient has a history of sexual assault, and a fear of intimate examination by a male clinician, we would provide a female clinician for examination in non-urgent circumstances.’