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Letter of the week: Where were the women in Pulse’s top 50 influential GPs?

The Medical Women's Federation (MWF), the largest body of women doctors, echoes the words of RCGP chair Dr Clare Gerada, deploring the lack of women in Pulse's list of the top 50 most influential GPs.

We also congratulate Clare on being No 1 for the second year running.

Clare is a superb role model for women GPs and we are proud to have nominated her last year for a Women in the City Woman of Achievement Award. She won not only the Healthcare category but went on to win the overall Woman of Achievement Award.

One of the criteria for this award is to support and encourage other women in the profession, which is evident from her many activities.

We call upon all women GPs to gather together and support each other to get involved in leadership positions in the NHS, including CCGs, and medical organisations, such as the royal colleges and the BMA.

We offer mentorship and support and we ask each one of you to get involved in the issues affecting our medical profession. Yes, we also have family commitments to juggle, but then we have an inherent multi-tasking attitude.

At our MWF autumn meeting we will seek to address why women should join networks in a discussion forum that includes the current BMA president Baroness Sheila Hollins and the medical director of the Medical Protection Society Dr Priya Singh.

From Dr Fiona Cornish, President, Medical Women's Federation (MWF) and GP in Cambridge

Dr Beryl de Souza, Honorary secretary, MWF and registrar in plastic surgery

Dr Fay Wilson, GPC and BMA Council member, MWF member and GP in Birmingham