Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Resources to help doctors with health concerns

In this section

Our contact details

Phone: 0161 923 6602
Email: gmc@gmc-uk.org

Organisations which can help you

If you need to talk about your health, the following organisations support doctors in difficulty in the UK.

Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland

Contact from members about any health and well-being issue is welcomed.

Email: wellbeing@aagbi.org

Website: www.aagbi.org

Telephone: 020 7631 1650

British Doctors and Dentists Group

Website: www.bddg.org

Telephone: 07771 642 682

British Medical Association

In times of difficulty or distress call 24/7: BMA Counselling and Doctor Adviser Service

Telephone: 08459 200 169

Website: www.bma.org.uk/doctorsfordoctors

BMA Counselling and Doctor Advisor Service

In times of difficulty or distress call 24/7: Confidential support for doctors in difficulty through professional counsellors and Doctor Advisors.

Telephone: 08459 200 169 

Website: www.bma.org.uk/doctorsfordoctors

British International Doctors Association

Address: ODA House, 316A Buxton Road, Great Moor, Stockport, SK2 7DD.

Telephone: 0161 456 7828

Doctors' Support Network

Peer support group for doctors with a wide range of mental health problems.

Email: info@dsn.org.uk

Website: www.dsn.org.uk

Telephone: 0844 395 3010

Doctors’ Support Line

Helpline dealing with any problem from career and family to mental health problems. Staffed by doctors and fully confidential.

Telephone: 0844 395 3010

The Medical Defence Union (MDU)

Telephone: 0800 716 646 / Ireland 1800 535935

Email: advisory@the-mdu.com

Website: www.the-mdu.com

The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)

Telephone: 0845 270 2034

Email: advice@mddus.com

Website: www.mddus.com

The Medical Protection Society (MPS)

Telephone: 0845 605 4000

Email: querydoc@mps.org.uk

Website: www.medicalprotection.org/uk

Medical Royal Colleges

Medical Royal Colleges may have their own support services for members - check the College websites for details.

NHS Practitioner health programme

Free and confidential services for doctors with a mental health, addiction or physical health problem affecting their work. Patients outside London area will be dealt with on a case by case basis and maybe required to seek funding for inpatient or specialist case if required.

Website: www.php.nhs.uk

Telephone: 020 3049 4505

Primary Care Support Service

The Primary Care Support Service is a direct access, confidential counselling, support and educational service for GPs (doctors), general dental practitioners and community pharmacists working in Wales. It is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government but is run as an independent service with co-ordinator input in each of the three Welsh regions.

Email: pcssinformation@wales.nhs.uk

Phone: 01248 675899

Psychiatrists' Support Service

A free, confidential support and advice service for members, trainee members and associates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists who find themselves in difficulty.

Email: psychiatristssupportservice@rpsych.ac.uk

Telephone: 020 7245 0412

Royal Medical Benevolent Fund

RMBF offers support to members of the medical profession and their dependants who, through illness or misfortune, find themselves in financial hardship. The website www.support4doctors.org  also provides a wide range of other sources of help and support.

Email: enquiries@rmbf.org

Website: www.rmbf.org

Telephone: 020 8540 9194

Fax: 020 8542 0494

Royal Medical Foundation

The Royal Medical Foundation exists to support doctors and their dependants who find themselves in financial hardship.

Email: caseworker@royalmedicalfoundation.org

Telephone: 01372 821 010

Fax: 01372 821 013

Samaritans

Confidential emotional support 24 hours a day.

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Website: www.samaritans.org

Telephone: 08457 90 90 90

Sick Doctors Trust

24 hour confidential telephone helpline for doctors with drug and alcohol problems.

Website: www.sick-doctors-trust.co.uk

Telephone: 0370 444 5163

Downloadable printouts and leaflets

Download a printout of content on Your health matters website (pdf)

Download the Your health matters leaflet (pdf)