Advice for doctors who are not currently working

  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

We understand that not working may create more uncertainty for you. Below you can find advice on obtaining legal and financial support.

Do I need to be working to have legal representation?

This can differ between defence organisations, so you should contact your representative for further information.

Do I need to be working to get help from the British Medical Association (BMA)?

No - the BMA provides advisory services for doctors and medical students, including those seeking advice in relation to health conditions. You can find out more information on our support services webpage.

Can I access any financial support?

Several charities and foundations provide financial support and information for doctors who can’t work due to their health. Our support organisations webpage has more information.

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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.