Planning and Delivering a BOA Specialty Society Diversity and Inclusion Survey

Description

The presentation led by Simon Britten, the Secretary of the British Limb Reconstruction Society (BLRS), discussed the results of a recent membership survey aimed at understanding and improving diversity within the society. Britten begins by thanking collaborators from Belfast and London before introducing the BOA's diversity action plan, emphasizing the low percentage of female surgeons in the field. He explains the need for the BLRS to respond to this plan through a comprehensive survey designed to maintain the anonymity and confidentiality of respondents, as it addressed sensitive topics like gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.



The finalized questionnaire provided a snapshot of the BLRS demographics, revealing a predominantly male membership (75% surgeons), and highlighted the significant representation of certain ethnic groups similar to the wider NHS profile. An encouraging 93% of respondents felt that the BLRS was inclusive, although Britten noted that the survey also identified a small portion of members who disagreed, prompting further investigation into their backgrounds and experiences.



Key suggestions from the survey included increasing the representation of nursing and allied health professionals on committees, promoting diverse conference speakers, and challenging discriminatory language within the organization's events. Britten emphasized the importance of continuous improvement towards inclusivity and acknowledged that while progress has been made, there remains work to do to ensure that all members feel supported and represented.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221404

Specialties