BMA Wellbeing Services

BMA wellbeing services

 

The BMA has a range of services and information to help support you.

 

We hope sharing this information is helpful for doctors and medical students who are looking for support and for those who may be involved in supporting them.

 

• Free, confidential 24/7 counselling line for all doctors and medical students.
• BMA members, plus their partners and dependents (aged 16-24 in full-time education), can also access a free structured course of up to six sessions of therapy with a counsellor. 
• Free, confidential emotional Peer support service for all doctors and medical students.
• Free, confidential emotional Doctor support service for doctors who are subject of a GMC investigation or whose licence to practise is at risk.
• A UK wellbeing support directory detailing various support services by geographical availability on our sources of supportpage.

 

 

Counselling service

 

Our counselling service is provided through an accredited provider, and all counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and bound by strict codes of confidentiality.

 

The counsellors are there to help you deal with a variety of issues, both personal and work-related. By seeking constructive help, you may identify ways of addressing the root causes of your concerns and develop strategies to reduce the impact of the consequences.

 

All doctors and medical students in the UK can access free, confidential in the moment support from a qualified counsellor through the 24/7 line on 0330 123 1245. Following a clinical assessment, BMA members, plus their partners and dependents (aged 16-24 in full-time education), can also access a free structured course of up to six sessions of solutions-focussed therapy with a counsellor by telephone or video call. 

 

The counsellors use a proactive approach to supporting you. They will provide you with space and time to talk about your concerns and provide guidance and mindfulness techniques that will help you in the present.

A few simple changes are often enough to make a world of difference. The counsellors may suggest useful resources that will help you make those changes – you may feel that is enough. At the end of the call, the counsellor will also explain the options available to you moving forward.

You can choose to simply call back if you would like to talk again or, if you're a BMA member and you would like to explore the option of structured counselling, the counsellor will offer to complete a clinical assessment with you.

 

Peer support service

 

Our Peer support service provides you with the opportunity to speak in confidence to another doctor who will provide peer support with an emotional focus.

 

Doctors and medical students may use the service to talk about a variety of issues, both professional and personal. Some common reasons may be for help dealing with difficult working relationships or work and study pressures.

 

Our peer support doctors provide a reflective space and work with you to gain insight into your problems. They do not provide advice.

 

Call 0330 123 1245 and ask to speak to a 'peer support' doctor. After providing some personal details you will be given the details of one of our peer support doctors, who are experienced in supporting colleagues.

 

Text the peer support doctor on the number you’ve been given, to say you are contacting them for peer support and would like to arrange a time to speak. You can then arrange ongoing conversations at mutually convenient times.

 

One call may be enough for you to discuss your issues. However, our peer support doctor will talk to you about whether further phone calls would be helpful. The length of a call depends on your needs.

 

Although our doctors do not provide diagnoses or treatment, they can (if appropriate) signpost you to other sources of support.

 

Read first-hand accounts from some of our peer support doctors:

• Helping people see a way through
• There is always light at the end of the tunnel
• Seeking help is not a sign of weakness

 

 

Doctor support service

 

All doctors who have been notified by the GMC that they are subject of a provisional enquiry or an investigation, or that their licence to practise is at risk, have access to this confidential, emotional support service delivered by the BMA.

 

We recognise that being subject of a complaint or learning your licence is at risk can be uniquely and deeply stressful. We also understand that many doctors might not have anyone to confide in while they undergo a GMC investigation.

As a result, the GMC commission us to provide the Doctor support service, which offers emotional help from fellow doctors. It functions independently and confidentially from the GMC.

 

Emotional support is available from the Doctor support service once you are notified by the GMC that a provisional enquiry or fitness to practise investigation is taking place. The support is available from when the GMC notify you until the outcome of the case. Doctors unable to talk with family or supportive colleagues may find the service particularly useful.

 

The Doctor support service is also available to doctors who are at risk of having their licence withdrawn. If you receive any communication from the GMC indicating that your licence to practise is at risk, you are welcome to use this service.

 

Call our dedicated Doctor support service telephone line on 020 7383 6707 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

 

Initial access to the service begins with a brief call for us to take a few details and talk you through the service.

Following this call, a doctor supporter will be allocated to you and will contact you directly to organise a time to speak and provide support.

You can also email [email protected].

 

Up to 6 hours of emotional support is available once you are notified by the GMC that a provisional enquiry or fitness to practise investigation is taking place, or that your licence to practise is at risk. This support is provided by phone or video call by a fellow doctor (doctor supporter) who is completely independent of the GMC. Calls usually take place during sociable hours, at mutually convenient times agreed between the doctor supporter and the doctor seeking support.

 

Subject to availability of supporters, your supporter can also accompany you (in-person or virtually) if you are invited to a meeting with the GMC or if your case ends up at a hearing (for up to 2 days of the hearing).

 

The dedicated telephone line is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), but calls with your allocated supporter may take place at mutually convenient times outside of these hours.

 

 

Wellbeing support services directory

 

Our Wellbeing support services directory, which we update every six months, is available to download on our sources of support page, and details services throughout the UK that support the wellbeing of doctors and medical students.

 

The services listed are only available to medics. If you are aware of a service you think qualifies for inclusion, please contact us at[email protected]. Please be aware that your local occupational health department may also be able to help.