A practice manager from Cumbria told a session at the RCGP conference that her practice lost £54,000 when two female GPs became pregnant.

A Devon locum GP, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'I've been qualified for two years during which time I've been looking for a job.

'I'm at a different practice every day, I find it frustrating and there is no job satisfaction.

'I've applied for numerous jobs and most of them have gone to men, not to a woman of child-bearing age. I'd be very happy to take a salaried position but there aren't even those in Devon.'

Afterwards, she added that she was convinced that the cost to small businesses of potential maternity pay was the reason putting off partners.

Former GPC chairman and RCGP Council member Dr John Chisholm told her: 'Your problem is extraordinarily real. PCTs can help, but it's discretionary. Some don't fund this at all.'

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