Doctors' health and well being

This A-Z section is still under preparation but will ultimately contain a comprehensive list of organisations, services and information to help you maintain your own health whilst undertaking medical training and the role of caring for others.

It is all too easy to become either hyperchondriacal or dismissive about one's own health when training or working in medicine. So by browsing this section you may find some resources that can help you to become more resilient or deal with your own wellbeing more effectively.

A Alchohol and addictions:

Association of Anaesthetists’ Sick Doctor Scheme:

Advice for anaesthetists Tel: 020 7631 1650

BMA Doctors for Doctors Service:

Provides help for doctors in employment difficulties especially in relation to mental health problems and abuse of alcohol and drugs. The unit provides a signposting service to the area of help that is of most pertinence to the individual doctor’s case. Tel: 020 7383 6739

British Doctors’ and Dentists’ Group: A network of support groups of recovering medical and dental drug and alcohol users. Students are also welcomed. The groups are accessed via the Medical Council on Alcohol. Tel: 020 7487 4445
website:www.medicouncilalcol.demon.co.uk

National Counselling Service for Sick Doctors :

Provides independent, confidential advice by doctors to sick doctors and their colleagues when ille health may be impairing safe medical practice.
Tel: 0870 241 0535 (helpline) email (admin only, please): contact@ncssd.org.uk website: www.ncssd.org.uk

Sick Doctors’ Trust :

A pro-active service, self-help organisation for addicted physicians.
Tel: 0870 444 5163 website: www.sick-doctors-trust.co.uk

C Charities

Royal Medical Benevolent Fund:

Provides financial help for sick doctors and their families
Tel: 020 8540 9194 email: seniorcaseworker@rmbf.org website: www.rmbf.org

BMA Charities: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP (Tel: 020 7383 6334)

The Royal Medical Foundation:

The Foundation exists to help medical practitioners and their dependants who are in financial hardship. Financial assistance is given in the form of grants-in-need, payment of school fees and annual pension
Epsom College, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4JQ. Tel: 01372 821 011

www.royalmedicalfoundation.org

The Cameron Fund:

This provides help specifically for General Practitioners and their dependants when they are in financial difficulty.
London, WC1H 9BR. Tel: 020 7388 3796

The Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men :

Not as sexist as the name suggests.

Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London, W1M 9DE

C Chronic illness

Matching scheme run by the BMA, set up by Rhona MacDonald ediitor of Careers Focus with the aim of assisting doctors with chronic ill health to make contact with other doctors who have had similar diagnoses

D Depression -

http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/

A paper about this site was peer reviewed in the BMJ Jan 31st 2004. We have taken a look at it and find it rather good on several fronts.

DSN - Doctors Support Network 0870 321 0 642

www.dsn.org.uk

Is run by doctors for doctors who have had or are experiencing mental ill health. Very supportive group with email support and meetings around the uk. www.dsn.org.uk and www.doctorssupportline.org

E Emotion

Take a look at the moodgym link under "D" as it a good self directed learning tool for all aspects of controlling ones emotions and being more at ease with oneself.

We also know several doctors who have benefitted from "the Sedonna Method" which is a simple to learn system of "releasing" emotions. This link offers a free sample of the material. It is well worth doing if you find that your emotions interfere with how you get on with others or how well you perform at work. It is not a magic answer to dealing with emotions more effectively but as it is a self help method which has been tried and tested by many (there is a medical contingent in the UK who swear by it) you may find it helpful.

F Finances

Worry about these can cause health problems and ill health can result in financial hardship. See "charities" section above who consider applications from doctors in financial difficulty. Also - career guidance when ill health threatens or after a prolongued period of not working can help to improve financial perspectives. Some of the charities above have seen fit to support doctors in dire financial situations in joining our programmes. Seeking the advice of a financial consultant can also sometimes help to restructure and plan routes forwards. For severe debt situations the Citizens Advice Bureau my be of help.

G General Support

BMA Counselling Service : a 24 hour telephone counselling service by qualified counsellors. Tel: 0645 200169

Support for doctors

A web resource run by the Royal Medical Benevolent Society

BMA Doctors for Doctors Service:

The Doctors Support Line 0870 7650001

http://www.doctorssupport.org staffed by volunteer doctors (not 24 hour)

YOUR CAREERISOUR CAREER