Looking after yourself

 

General Practice can be very rewarding, and at times very stressful. It is important to recognise your own health needs as you treat others. GPs are under enormous pressure, and during the pandemic this has been highlighted more than ever. Every doctor should have his or her own GP. This should ideally be someone outside the practice, as it is difficult to approach anyone with problems of a personal nature, but particularly difficult if your doctor is your business partner. There are a range of support organisations and resources available to all GPs in NI.

All GPs in Northern Ireland can access Occupational Health Services. This is ideally in the Trust area where you work most often. More information is below.

In an emergency, please consider contacting :-

BMA 24/7 Helpline – call 0330 123 1245

Samaritans - call 116 223

Lifeline 0808 808 8000

  • https://www.workforcewellbeing.hscni.net/

    The regional Workforce Wellbeing Network 's website launched in April 2022 as a direct response to the Pandemic and provides a range of excellent psychological support resources. There are also now in place Helplines which are open to local GP practices.

    Northern HSC Trust

    028 9441 3644 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

    South Eastern HSC Trust

    028 9250 1332 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

    Southern HSC Trust

    028 3756 2600 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

    Western HSC Trust

    028 7161 1281 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

    Belfast HSC Trust

    028 9615 1888 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

  • Any GP can access Occupational Health Services by contacting the relevant Trust depending on where they work.

    Western HSC Trust

    Occupational Health Department, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB 

    Telephone: 02871611407 Ext:214420/214421/214422

    Email: occupational.health@westerntrust.hscni.net

    Northern HSC Trust

    Angela Higgins Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service, Willow House , Antrim Area Hospital BT41 2RL

    Telephone: 028 94 424403 

    Email: occhealth.referrals@northerntrust.hscni.net

    Belfast HSC Trust

    2nd Floor McKinney House, Stockman's Lane, Belfast

    Telephone: 028 95040401 

    Email: occupationalhealths@belfasttrust.hscni.net

    South Eastern HSC Trust

    Laganside House, Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, BT28 1JP

    Tel: 028 92 501255 

    Email: OccHealth.Lvh@setrust.hscni.net

    Bernagh House, Downshire Hospital, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6RA 

    Tel: 02844 513943 

    Email:OccupationalHealth.Dsh@setrust.hscni.net

    Occupational Health Departments Home 3, Ulster Hospital , Dundonald, BT16 1RH 

    Tel: 028 9056 1300 

    Email: OH.Secretary@setrust.hscni.net

    Southern HSC Trust

    Occupational Health Department, Pinewood Villa, Lower Longstone, Loughgall Road Armagh, BT61 7PR

    Telephone: 02837564800

    Email:occupational.health@southerntrust.hscni.net

  • The BMA wellbeing support services are open to all doctors and medical students. They are confidential and free of charge. Call 0330 123 1245 and you will have the choice of speaking to a counsellor or taking the details of a doctor who you can contact for peer support. 

  • The RCGP provide useful resources on their GP Wellbeing page.

  • You will find a range of resources on GPNI website. This includes an excellent short video by Dr Stephen Harte, a local GP.

  • The NI GP Mentoring scheme was launched in 2018. It is a free service and is intended to help GPs to address challenges they are facing. All of the mentors in the scheme are GPs with a broad range of experience. Information about the GP mentors is contained within the biography section of the site. Areas that GPs could find useful to discuss with a mentor include: 

    • Current work problems

    • Team relationships and leadership issues

    • Performance issues

    • Decision making

    • Time management issues

    • Work-life balance

    https://www.nimdta.gov.uk/gp-appraisal-revalidation-and-mentoring/gp-mentoring/

    NIMDTA also provides details of other organisations that can help doctors in difficulty at this link: 

    https://www.nimdta.gov.uk/professional-support-wellbeing/useful-support-resources/

  • The Cameron Fund is the GPs' own charity.

    https://www.cameronfund.org.uk/

    It is the only medical benevolent fund that solely supports general practitioners and their dependents.

    They provide support to GPs and their families in times of financial need, whether through ill-health, disability, death or loss of employment.

    You can find some financial tips HERE

  • This organisation provides help for any doctor and their family in need.

    https://rmbf.org/