GP SUPPORT.
Working as a partner in general practice or working as a sessional or salaried GP can be a rewarding and challenging job. High standards are expected at all times and often an individual’s own circumstances are not taken into account when performing a clinical role.
The LMC has a role in supporting and helping both individual doctors and any partnerships where they work to ensure that progress towards acceptable solutions can take place. All conversations are confidential and any information the LMC gathers in these circumstances will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and in line with General Data Protection Regulations.
If you have any concerns regarding your work as a GP, or regarding the partnership / organisation in which you work, contact the LMC. General, non-specific enquiries can come to nencicb-ng.admingstlmc@nhs.net. If preferred, direct contact with an Officer of the LMC is possible.
Remember that the earlier the LMC can be involved in any issue the greater the level of support, guidance and practical help can be given.
In addition to the support that the LMC can offer to GPs relating to their work and contracts there are other sources of help available:
General Practice Support Service
The North East & North Cumbria Regional LMC, in conjunction with your LMC, have commissioned an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). The EAP is a confidential counselling and information service. It is available to ALL GP Partners, General Practitioners and staff employed within general practice across Gateshead and South Tyneside. See here for further details.
NHS Practitioner Health
Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists across England with mental illness and addiction problems, who are working or looking to return to clinical practice. The service can help with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression or an addiction problem, in particular where these might affect work. The service is provided by health professionals specialising in mental health support to doctors and is available in various locations across England
Practitioner Health is able to see and treat the following Healthcare Professionals
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Doctors
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Medical Students in clinical years
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Retired GPs returning to practice
The mental health treatment service is available via self-referral for any doctor/dentist on the GMC register in England. Services are via a registration process accessing the service or by calling 0300 0303 300.
The service is available 8am – 8pm Monday – Friday and 8am – 2pm Saturday.
Dr Richard Duggins is the Clinical Lead for GP Health in the North East and Cumbria.
For further information please see the website https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk
BMA Counselling Service
The BMA counselling service is staffed by professional telephone counsellors, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and are bound by strict codes of confidentiality and ethical practice.
Call 0330 123 1245 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week
More information is available on the BMA’s website: http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/doctors-well-being/about-doctors-for-doctors
Financial support for doctors and their families
The main medical charities have got together to produce a new website portal that will help doctors in difficulties to find the most suitable charity to apply to. BMA Charities has worked with the Cameron Fund, the RMBF, the Royal Medical Foundation, and the Society for the Assistance of Medical Families (formerly Widows & Orphans) and the portal has now gone live.
Doctors, or their dependents, and medical students, can answer a very short questionnaire to find the best charity to help them. They can then link to that charity for more information about eligibility and application. And there is also information about other organisations that can offer help.
The website address is: https://doctorshelp.org.uk