England
NHS Practitioner Health, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and NHS 111
UK coverage
Healthcare support in each UK nation
Choose a UK nation to see which services cover your area. The pages show who a service covers, not walk-in addresses.
Short answer
Most support charities and peer networks on Pharma Mate cover the whole UK. NHS Practitioner Health covers England and Canopi covers Wales. Employment advice splits in two: Acas covers England, Scotland and Wales, and the Labour Relations Agency covers Northern Ireland.
Choose your UK nation
Wales
Canopi for NHS and social-care staff, and NHS 111 Wales
Scotland
UK-wide networks, Acas and NHS 24 on 111
Northern Ireland
UK-wide networks, the Labour Relations Agency and Lifeline
Key facts
- Whole UK
- Pharmacist Support, BMA wellbeing services, Doctors' Support Network, GLADD, Protect and Samaritans (116 123)
- England
- NHS Practitioner Health, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, NHS 111 mental health option
- Wales
- Canopi (new therapy referrals paused from 21 September 2026), NHS 111 Wales (press 2 for mental health)
- Scotland
- NHS 24 on 111, Independent National Whistleblowing Officer for NHS Scotland concerns
- Northern Ireland
- Labour Relations Agency, HSENI, Lifeline (0808 808 8000)
Employment rules differ in Northern Ireland
England, Scotland and Wales share one employment system. Acas runs early conciliation, claims go to an employment tribunal, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) covers workplace stress. Northern Ireland has separate employment law. The Labour Relations Agency runs early conciliation, claims go to an industrial tribunal, and HSENI covers health and safety. Before you rely on any guide about contracts or tribunal deadlines, check the guide applies where you work.
Speaking up works differently in each nation
In England, NHS organisations have Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, supported nationally by NHS England since the National Guardian's Office closed on 30 June 2026. In Scotland, the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer reviews how NHS Scotland bodies handle whistleblowing concerns. Protect gives free whistleblowing advice across the UK. Read speaking up in healthcare for the steps.
Urgent mental-health help by nation
In every nation, call 999 in an emergency. For urgent mental-health help, England uses NHS 111 with the mental health option, Wales uses NHS 111 Wales press 2, Scotland uses NHS 24 on 111, and Northern Ireland has Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. The urgent help page lists each number.
Common questions
Does Acas cover Northern Ireland?
No. Acas covers England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, the Labour Relations Agency gives employment advice and runs early conciliation.
Which healthcare support services cover the whole UK?
Pharmacist Support, BMA wellbeing services, Doctors' Support Network, GLADD, Protect and Samaritans all cover the whole UK. Check each service's own criteria, since some depend on profession or membership.
Who handles NHS whistleblowing concerns in Scotland?
The Independent National Whistleblowing Officer reviews complaints about how NHS Scotland bodies handled a whistleblowing concern. Raise the concern with your employer first, using the NHS Scotland whistleblowing standards.