If you work in healthcare in England, NHS Practitioner Health gives free, confidential mental health care to NHS staff who cannot get confidential care locally. Acas gives free employment advice on 0300 123 1100. For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and choose option 2, or call 999 if a life is at risk.
Key facts
- Emergency
- 999 or A&E
- Urgent mental health help
- NHS 111, option 2, free and open 24 hours
- Samaritans
- 116 123, free, 24 hours
- NHS staff mental health care
- NHS Practitioner Health, 0300 0303 300, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm
- Employment advice
- Acas helpline 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- Local advice
- Citizens Advice Adviceline 0800 144 8848
- Tribunal time limit
- Six months less one day for most problems on or after 1 October 2026, three months less one day before then. Acas early conciliation comes first.
- Speaking up
- Freedom to Speak Up Guardians in NHS and independent providers
- Workplace stress
- HSE Management Standards
NHS staff mental health services in England
NHS Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service. Any member of staff working in the NHS in England can apply if they cannot get confidential care through local services, for example because of their seniority or the team they work in. You register through two online forms, a registration form and a wellbeing assessment. The service aims to contact you within 5 working days, and appointments run by video.
Practitioner Health does not offer crisis care, ADHD or autism assessment, physical health care, occupational health reports or medico-legal assessments. Practitioner Health also lists a 24-hour crisis text line: text NHSPH to 85258.
Profession bodies add more help. Pharmacists, trainees and pharmacy students can contact Pharmacist Support. Doctors can use BMA wellbeing services. Nurses can use RCN member support. Your employer's occupational health team and employee assistance programme are often the fastest first step.
Employment advice in England
Acas gives free, impartial advice on employment rights across England, Scotland and Wales. Before most employment tribunal claims you must notify Acas for early conciliation. Most claims about a problem on or after 1 October 2026 have a limit of six months less one day, and conciliation pauses the clock. Problems before 1 October 2026 keep three months less one day, so check your own deadline early. See tribunal deadlines.
Citizens Advice runs Adviceline on 0800 144 8848, usually 9am to 5pm on weekdays, plus local offices. For defence and union help, pharmacists can use the Pharmacists' Defence Association. Our guides on contracts and rights at work explain the law.
Urgent help numbers in England
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk. For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and choose option 2 to reach a mental health worker in your area. Samaritans answer on 116 123. Text SHOUT to 85258 for text support. Our NHS urgent help profile and urgent help page give more detail.
Speaking up and whistleblowing in England
NHS trusts, primary care organisations, integrated care boards and independent providers have Freedom to Speak Up Guardians. The National Guardian's Office closed on 30 June 2026, and NHS England now provides national support for guardians. Protect gives free whistleblowing advice on 020 3117 2520. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects workers who make a protected disclosure. See whistleblowing in healthcare.
Regulators for staff working in England
- GPhC: pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in Great Britain.
- GMC: doctors across the UK.
- NMC: nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the UK.
- GDC: dentists and dental care professionals across the UK.
- HCPC: allied health professions such as paramedics and physiotherapists across the UK.
- CQC: regulates health and social care services in England.
- HSE: workplace health and safety, including the Management Standards for work stress.
How England differs from the other nations
Practitioner Health and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians are England arrangements. Wales has Canopi, which paused new therapy referrals from 21 September 2026, and the Speaking Up Safely framework. Scotland has the National Wellbeing Hub, the Workforce Specialist Service and an Independent National Whistleblowing Officer. Northern Ireland has separate employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and a separate pharmacy regulator. See Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and coverage across the UK.
Common questions
Can pharmacists use NHS Practitioner Health?
Practitioner Health accepts any member of staff working in the NHS in England who cannot get confidential care locally. Pharmacists working outside the NHS should check eligibility with the service on 0300 0303 300.
What number do I call for a mental health crisis in England?
Call 999 if a life is at risk. For urgent help, call NHS 111 and choose option 2. Samaritans answer on 116 123.
Who gives free employment advice in England?
Acas on 0300 123 1100 and Citizens Advice Adviceline on 0800 144 8848 both give free advice.
Who regulates pharmacists in England?
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in England, Scotland and Wales.