Your health matters

Medicine can be a challenging and stressful profession. As a doctor, while caring for patients is your priority, it’s also important to look after your own health.

A small number of doctors are referred, or refer themselves, to us each year because of the impact of their health on their fitness to practise.

We manage these cases as sensitively as we can. This includes getting expert advice where needed and dealing with the situation confidentially.

This guide:

  • explains when we need to know about a health condition
  • tells you what you can expect if you are referred or self-refer to us because of your health
  • signposts specific support to help you.
Who is this guide for
This guide is for doctors who have been referred, or who need to refer themselves to us because of a health condition that’s affecting their fitness to practise.
  1. Summary
  2. When a referral or self-referral does and doesn’t need to be made
  3. What we’ll do when a referral or self-referral is made
  1. What happens if we decide to open a full investigation
  2. Advice for doctors who are not currently working
  3. Support organisations
Next When a referral or self-referral does and doesn’t need to be made

Related content

Health assessments Find out more about our health assessments process.
Refer yourself or another doctor If you think you need to refer yourself or another doctor to us for a health concern, you can do this here.