The Royal Medical Foundation, a medical benevolent charity assists UK medical practitioners and their dependants who find themselves in financial hardship.


Tel: 01372 821 011
Depending on individual needs and circumstances, RMBF is able to provide grants, loans, information, advice, clothes parcels, payments to assist with domestic and financial crises or help with childcare and other costs.

Visit Royal Medical Benevolent Fund

Email: info@rmbf.org

Tel: 020 8540 9194
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

Visit: The Samaritans Website

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Tel: 08457 90 90 90
 
 
 
 
 
Doctors are notoriously bad at seeking help. We tend to be high achievers with high expectations of ourselves and a culture which values resilience and independence. For some of us, seeking advice and support does not come naturally, but it is a key part of professionalism and maintaining a healthy, enjoyable career. This page provides some ideas as to where to look for help when you need it. Your need may be simply for someone to talk over career or learning plans, or it may be something more serious. Whichever, the phrase "Doctor, heal thyself" is very bad advice.
The GP Tutors are an excellent source of pastoral care and impartial advice. They are keen to help guide your learning, but have a wider role in providing support. A confidential ear outside your practice and immediate circle of friends can be very useful.

The BMA provides help and advice on a wide range of employment, partnership and management issues, but it also provides the BMA Counselling Service and Doctors Advisory Service tel: 08459 200169 and information and links to a wide range of resources, charities and support organizations at their Doctors' health and wellbeing website.

Health and Wellbeing Website
The Doctors' Support Network (DSN) is a warm, friendly self-help group for doctors with mental health concerns. Telelphone 0870 321 0 642, or call their peer support helpline on 0870 765 0001

Dyslexia is a common condition which affects a large number of the population.  The two links below are useful resources to help in dyslexia assessments.  If you are a GP Trainee and know you suffer from dyslexia then please ensure you inform the Wessex Deanery as you will be entitled to support including extra time in professional examinations.

http://www.spot-your-potential.com/buy-spot.htm?aff=bda

http://www.lucid-research.com/which.htm

Helping GP help themselves

  • Do you have learning or development needs but you aren’t sure how to address them?
  • Are you finding the demands of modern general practice, your patients and working in the NHS overwhelming?

WESSEX INSIGHT is a new, confidential educational support service set up by the Wessex LMCs and Deanery to support the needs of GPs across Wessex.  It is targeted at common issues that many of us face, which the Wessex LMCs and Deanery feel can be helped by access to the right intervention, at the right time and at a reasonable cost (subsidised by learning bursary)

Areas covered include: Time management, Communication and language skills, Coaching in particular skills, Mentoring, Careers advice, Opportunities to see how others practice, Consultation skills, Specific support for certain groups of GPs, Signposting

You can self refer or discuss your development needs in confidence with your Appraiser of member of your local GP Educational team.

Wessex Insight Leaflet

 
 
 
Last updated at 14:54, 30 Nov 2011