Support for doctors

Pressures doctors describe

Rota gaps, night shifts and rotations to new hospitals every few months wear down sleep and relationships. Doctors in training carry exams and portfolio deadlines on top of clinical work. GPs describe rising demand and long days of remote and face-to-face consultations. Senior doctors handle complaints, serious incident reviews and management duties on top of clinical work.

Many doctors delay asking for help because they worry about their registration. The GMC publishes its own list of health and wellbeing support for doctors, which includes the BMA support line, DSN and Practitioner Health. Our guide to fear of seeking help covers the worries doctors raise most and where to get confidential advice.

• Exhaustion and burnout: read burnout in healthcare and sleep and night shifts.
• Moral injury from care you cannot give: read moral distress.
• Bullying or exclusion on the rota: read bullying at work and discrimination.
• Complaints and serious incidents: read complaints and after an error at work.
• Doctors new to UK practice: read international professionals.

Confidential mental health care for doctors

NHS Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service. In England, the service names doctors and dentists as eligible groups, provided you hold or are seeking registration. You register online or by phone, and the team aims to contact you within five working days. Retired doctors who do not plan to return to practice are not eligible. Read our Practitioner Health profile.

In Scotland, the Workforce Specialist Service, delivered by Practitioner Health, covers regulated health and social care professionals who cannot get confidential care locally. In Wales, Canopi supports NHS and social care staff through doctor advisors and self-help. Canopi paused new therapy referrals, including CBT, from 21 September 2026. Canopi used the name Health for Health Professionals Wales until April 2022. In Northern Ireland, start with your GP or occupational health, and call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 in a crisis.

Peer support and money help for doctors

The Doctors' Support Network is a confidential peer group for doctors and medical students with mental health concerns. Membership is free, and full members can use an anonymous online forum. DSN does not offer one-to-one counselling or support with GMC processes. See our DSN profile.

Doctors in Distress runs facilitated group programmes for healthcare workers. The Psychiatrists' Support Service gives peer support to psychiatrists, and GLADD represents LGBTQ+ doctors and medical students. Balint groups offer reflective space to talk about the emotional side of patient care.

For money problems, the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund gives grants, money advice and talking therapies to doctors, medical students and their families in hardship. The Cameron Fund helps current and former GPs and their dependants. DoctorsHelp lists other funds. Read money worries before you apply.

The BMA and the medical royal colleges

The BMA is the trade union for doctors and medical students. Members get employment advice and representation on contracts, rotas, pay and disciplinary matters. A BMA member can also book a structured course of up to six counselling sessions. Our BMA wellbeing profile explains the difference between the open support line and member services.

Many medical royal colleges run their own support for members. Doctors in training in England can raise unsafe hours with their guardian of safe working hours. For contract terms, rota changes or restrictive clauses in GP partnership or locum work, read healthcare contracts, contract changes and locum contracts.

Some doctors also join campaign groups. EveryDoctor (opens another website) is a doctor-led campaign group backed by NHS staff and patients through monthly donations. Doctors' Association UK (DAUK) (opens another website) is a grassroots membership organisation led by doctors, which campaigns on working conditions, pay and patient safety, with a student rate for medical students. Read more about campaign and advocacy groups for healthcare staff.

GMC investigations and the Doctor Support Service

The GMC regulates doctors across the UK. If the GMC tells you about a provisional enquiry, a fitness to practise investigation or a risk to your licence, you can use the Doctor Support Service. The GMC commissions the BMA to run the service, and the service works independently and confidentially from the GMC.

A fellow doctor gives up to six hours of emotional support by phone or video, from notification to the outcome of the case. Subject to availability, a supporter may come with you to a GMC meeting or up to two days of a hearing. Supporters do not give legal advice. For advice on the case, contact your medical defence organisation or solicitor. You do not need to be a BMA member. Read investigations at work for how to prepare.

If you are struggling now

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. In England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans answer on 116 123, day and night. Practitioner Health lists a 24/7 crisis text service: text NHSPH to 85258. See our urgent help page.

Support services listed for doctors

Guides for doctors on Pharma Mate