Wessex Faculty

There are a number of organisations offering help and support to doctors experiencing difficulties; information and links to useful resources are provided below.   If you identify a doctor with a wellbeing need and none of the following resources seems appropriate, remember the option to speak to your appraisal lead for further suggestions and advice.  This can be done anonymously if need be.

​

​

Health, counselling and support

​

• The BMA doctor advisor service runs alongside BMA counselling giving doctors and medical students in distress or difficulty the choice of speaking in confidence to another doctor. Membership not required to access this.  Telephone: 03301231245

 

• Practitioner Health Service is a confidential, self-referral service for doctors in England offering help to doctors with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression, or an addiction problem, where these might affect work.  Telephone: 03000303300 Text: Text NHSPH to 85258 for the out-of-hours crisis text service.

​

• Doctors’ support network is a confidential peer support network for doctors and medical students with concerns about their mental health.

​

• The Sick Doctors Trust offers support and help for doctors, dentists and medical students who are concerned about their use of drugs and alcohol.  Telephone: 03704445163

​

• Physician Burnout is a website providing resources and blogs on how to deal with burnout and information on the support available to doctors about burnout.

​

• DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit, service giving doctors the opportunity to explore professional and personal difficulties with senior clinicians.  Telephone: 02073836533

​

• Action on Addiction is a national charity which offers high quality, effective residential rehab and community-based addiction treatment.  Telephone: 03003300659

​

• British Doctors and Dentists Group is a recovery group for doctors addicted to alcohol and/ or drugs.

​

• GLADD is an organisation in the UK that unites and represents LGBT doctors from all over the UK.  Membership to anyone who supports the values and constitution that GLADD stands for.

​

• Our NHS people Help to manage health and wellbeing by phone or text. Offers access to wellbeing support apps, guides and information. 24 hours staff support line operated by the Samaritans.  Support line telephone: 03001314434  Text: FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text

​

• Bereavement support line provided by Hospice UK telephone: 03003034434

​

• Help them to help us provides support for physical & mental health as well as help with day to day necessities. Counselling & psychotherapy offered

​

• Frontline 19 free frontline emotional support to healthcare workers during covid-a9 using counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists

​

• Medical protection society counselling service members can access 6 free sessions of counselling

​

• Project 5 a bespoke health service worker wellbeing service offering support from coaches and mental health practitioners

​

• Freedom to Speak Up in Primary Care guidance to support speaking up in primary care

​

• E-Learning for Health Freedom to Speak Up programme this electronic learning for health website link provides information on how to raise concerns around the issues of bullying, harassment and discrimination 

 

​

Self-help support and mental health

​

• Be Mindful is an online resource for mindfulness.

​

• Headspace offers online meditation courses and downloads- free for NHS workers until December 2020.

​

• The Royal College of Psychiatrists mental health page An excellent source of information; from fact sheets on specific mental health issues and supporting someone with a mental health condition to training to become a mental health professional.

​

• Books offering guidance on reducing stress, restoring wellbeing and finding peace in a frantic world:

  • Mindfulness by Mark Williams

  • Mindfulness for health by Vidyamala Burch

​

• ​Covid-19 Mindfulness resources for health and care staff from the mindfulness initiative, links to numerous resources and ways into mindfulness

​

• Living life to the full is a website offering free online courses covering low mood, stress and resiliency

​

• Staying safe from suicidal thoughts resources to help those struggling with suicidal thoughts

​

• Red Whale COVID-19 emotional and psychological survival guide the first of a series of articles, offering some simple tips on staying well and supporting each other as clinicians

 

​

Financial help

​

• The Cameron Fund provides support to GPs and their families in times of financial need, whether through ill-health, disability, death or loss of employment.

​

• The Royal Medical Foundation is a charity providing assistance to registered doctors and their families who are in financial hardship.

​

• Help me, I’m a doctor is a group of five medical charities working with NHS England have launched the “Help me, I’m a doctor” portal – a confidential single access point for doctors searching for financial help as well as signposting to other support.

​

• The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund supports doctors and their families through all stages of their career and beyond. Help ranges from financial assistance in the form of grants and loans to a telephone befriending scheme for those who may be isolated and in need of support.

​

• Medics money empowering doctors to make better financial decisions. Self-help guides and information

 

​

Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic [BAME] doctors and support for doctors with pre-existing conditions

 

• A note for all BAME colleagues working in the NHS supporting our BAME NHS people and communities during and beyond COVID-19

​

• Risk assessments for staff produced by NHS employers on how to enhance their existing risk assessments particularly for at-risk and vulnerable groups within their workforce.

​

• COVID-19: risk assessment for all staff  the BMA has called upon the NHS to introduce an effective system of risk assessment for all doctors, including those from BAME background to ensure that doctors can work in a way that minimises risk to themselves and patients.

​

• Safety Assessment and Decision (SAAD) Score (2) SAAD risk assessment tool developed for all staff within General Practice, including both clinical and non-clinical staff.

​

• Disabled Doctors Network  this support network and website is aimed at chronically ill/disabled doctors, medical students, their colleagues, educators, trainers and anyone else requiring information or support regarding inclusion in the medical professions as a person with a chronic illness or disability

 

​

Help for GPs

​

• Local LMC offer advice, support and often mentoring or coaching

​

• Occupational Health contracted by NHS England to provide a comprehensive occupational health service to GPs working in the south of England who are on the performers list

​

• Time to care programme to help practice teams to manage their workload

​

• RCGP practice resilience service can offer diagnostic assessment and support tailored

​

• Looking after you too -coaching provides coaching support for primary care staff

​

• NHS People Staff support line: 0300 131 7000 (7am-11pm, seven days a week)

• NHS People bereavement support line: 0300 303 4434 (8am-8pm, seven days a week)