Here are organisations which provide advice and support to those working in the health service.
 
  • Avon C.O.P.E. Scheme for GPs 2000
    A confidential, local service for GPs directed access to GP helpers, psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists. It is for ANY GP under stress, in distress, depressed, burnt out, not coping, drinking too much or worried about themsleves in any other way.
  • BMA Stress Counselling Service for Doctors
    Telephone 0645 200169 (charged at local call rates) 24 hour service. Free of charge.
  • Doctors Support Network (DSN) - telephone 07071 223372
    Provides ongoing confidential advice and support to doctors with mental health problems. All calls are dealt with by doctors.
  • Doctors Support Line, the first and only confidential and anonymous UK telephone helpline for doctors in distress.
  • National Counselling Service for Sick Doctors
    Telephone 020 7935 5982, 9.30am to 4.30pm. Service free of charge.
  • North Wales Doctor Support Service
    A confidential, direct access counselling service at a variety of locations off NHS premises, with a range of post-graduate educational activities designed to pre-empt and avert personal crises. It is sponsored by, but physically separate from the North Wales Health Authority.
  • The Sick Doctors Trust - telephone 01252 345163
    A confidential service for doctors, set up by doctors to provide early intervention in chemical dependency.
  • The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund - telephone 020 8540 9194
    May be able to provide financial help to registered doctors and/or their dependents.
  • Scope in Durham
    An NHS Beacon service set up by County Durham Health Authority providing a Primary Care Support Unit which itself offers GP Choices (Occupational Health), GP Career Start, GP Practice Match, GP Sabbaticals, Practice Nurse link, Practice Manager Link and the LMC (Unloved until needed it says here - well Primhe loves you!).
    Contact: GP Career Start Dr Jamie Harrison (whome Primhe also loves!)
    Tel: 0191 333 2807
    Fax: 0191 386 5934
    E-mail:
    GP Choices - Dr Len Featherstone 0191 333 3313
    GP Sabbaticals - Dr Ian Ruffett 0191 333 3219
  • YOU MATTER!
    They cover primary care doctors and their staff in South and Westdevon and cornwall.
    The Team Dr David Longdon, LMC Representative and Dr Gerard Woodroof, Consultant Occupational Physician, Lesley Abbot and Sue Burke, Abbot Burke Associates Ltd, Occupational Health Specialists, Dr Ben Charnaud Psychiatrist.
    Provides consultant level psychiatric assessment followed by funded psychotherapy and other psychological therapies as appropriate to address the particular needs of doctors
    For help and information please contact: Dr David Longdon The Surgery, Westella Road, Yelverton, PL20 6AS. Tel: 01822 852202
    The Occupational Health Bulletin is available for download in PDF format from: www.devonlmc.org/news.htm