Support organisations
We know that raising concerns about your health or going through a fitness to practise process can be stressful. Here you can find support specifically for doctors from organisations across the UK. There are other local, regional, and speciality-specific support services available which you can find by searching online or by contacting your speciality's association or royal college.
Doctor Support Service
A confidential and free service run on our behalf by the BMA Wellbeing Support Service. The Doctor Support Service offers emotional help to doctors under investigation from a fellow doctor. The supporter will be able to talk to you about how you feel and help you find strategies to cope with the stress of the investigation or hearing.
Call 020 7383 6707 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or email - doctorsupportservice@bma.org.uk. They will initially take a few details and talk you though the service. A doctor supporter will then be allocated to you and will contact you directly.
British Medical Association (BMA)
The BMA is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.
You can access the following free of charge without being a member of the BMA:
BMA counselling service - a confidential 24/7 counselling line
BMA Peer Support - gives you an opportunity to speak in confidence to another doctor.
Your Wellbeing gives links to organisations that offer help to doctors needing advice or support.
NHS Practitioner Performance Advice (PPA)
The PPA service works to resolve concerns about the practice of doctors, dentists, and pharmacists by providing case management services to health care organisations and to individual practitioners.
Email advice@resolution.nhs.uk
MPTS support Service
The MPTS support service is available to any doctor referred to a hearing, but is particularly aimed at those who will be attending alone or without legal representation. A member of MPTS staff can provide information and signposting in advance or during the hearing, such as:
- Talking you through the hearing process
- Providing practical information about attending a hearing
- Signposting to other support material and services
Call 0161 240 7178 or email: MPTSsupportservice@mpts-uk.org
There are several organisations that provide confidential support for doctors who are struggling with their mental health, including:
NHS Practitioner Health
NHS Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service. It can help with a range of mental health or addiction issues. The service offers timely and comprehensive healthcare for doctors, via self-refer on its website.
Email prac.health@nhs.net
National Wellbeing Hub (Scotland)
A digital wellbeing hub that provides advice and information to healthcare staff, carers, volunteers and their families. National Wellbeing Hub (Scotland) helps them to access relevant support when they need it. The hub also provides self-care and personal resilience resources.
Health for Health Professionals Wales
A free, confidential service for all NHS workers and healthcare students across Wales, Health for Health Professionals Wales helps those who are looking for psychological and mental health support. The service offers self-help, guided self-help, peer support and virtual face-to-face therapies with accredited specialists.
Samaritans
Confidential emotional support available 24 hours a day. Samaritans have a network of national branches who can also provide drop-in face-to-face listening support.
Email jo@samaritans.org
DocHealth
DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit psychotherapy service for all practising doctors in the UK, delivered online by doctors who are specialist Consultant Medical Psychotherapists. The service helps doctors, who self-refer, to explore difficulties, both professional and personal. Fees are charged according to grade and support may be available in cases of financial hardship.For further information visit: https://www.dochealth.org.uk/
Doctors’ Support Network
Doctors' Support Network is a confidential, friendly self-help group for doctors with mental health conditions.
Email info@dsn.org.uk
Rethink
Expert, accredited advice and information – Rethink offer everything from treatment and care to benefits and employment rights – for anyone affected by mental health conditions.
Email info@rethink.org.uk
Mind
Mind is a charity that makes sure anyone with a mental health condition has somewhere to turn for advice and support.
Email info@mind.org.uk
SANE
SANE provide emotional support and information for anyone affected by mental health conditions, including families, friends and carers.
Email support@sane.org.uk
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
The BACP provide a tool to help you find counsellors and psychotherapists close to where you live.
Email bacp@bacp.co.uk
No Panic
No Panic is a charity which helps people who suffer from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, and other related anxiety disorders.
There are several organisations that provide support for doctors who suffer from substance use disorder or are in recovery, including:
NHS Practitioner Health
A free, confidential NHS service for all doctors in England and Scotland. The NHS Practitioner Health service offers specialist mental health support for a range of conditions. This includes common and complex mental health conditions and substance use.
Email prac.health@nhs.net
British Doctors and Dentists Group
The British Doctors and Dentists Group is a mutual support group for doctors who are recovering, or wish to recover, from addiction to or dependency on alcohol or other drugs.
Email natsecretary@bddg.org
Sick Doctors Trust
An independent, confidential helpline run by doctors who are in recovery from addiction. Sick Doctors Trust can offer advice about treatment options and adopting a lifestyle that will minimise the chances of relapse.
Email help@sick-doctors-trust.co.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Alcoholics Anonymous is a free nationwide service which assists in recovery and continued sobriety of people with an alcohol use disorder.
Email help@aamail.org
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of people recovering from substance use disorders who meet regularly to support each other.
Disabled Doctors Network
The Disabled Doctors Network is an independent network run by doctors that provides information and support to chronically ill and disabled doctors and medical students, as well as those who they work or study alongside.
Hope 4 Medics
A support group for doctors with disabilities or chronic illness. Hope 4 Medics offers specific and generic sources of support.
Email info@hope4medics.co.uk
Doctor’s help
A support service for doctors when they need confidential financial assistance. Doctor's help uses a questionnaire tool on their website which shortlists charities that best suit the applicant and their needs.
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund
A support service for members of the medical profession and their dependants. The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund help those who are in financial hardship as a result of illness, disability or other unexpected crises.
Email help@rmbf.org
The Cameron Fund
The Cameron Fund offer support for current and retired GPs and their families in times of financial distress, whether through ill-health, disability, death, or loss of employment.
Email info@cameronfund.org.uk
Royal Medical Foundation
Royal Medical Foundation provides support for doctors and their dependants who find themselves in financial hardship as a result of ill-health.
Email rmf-caseworker@epsomcollege.org.uk
Society for Assistance of Medical Families
A society offering help for doctors and their families, the Society for Assistance of Medical Families helps those who find themselves in hardship through illness or other circumstances beyond their control.
Email info@samf.org.uk
