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Doctors’ health matters

The work of Doctors for Doctors Unit in supporting doctors and promoting wellbeing within the profession - a report by the Health Policy and Economic Research Unit
April 2007

Foreword by Dr Michael Peters, Head of the Doctors for Doctors Unit
The last year has been very important in the development of the Doctors for Doctors Unit, with several key areas of expansion. The Doctors Advisory Service has become established and is taking increasing numbers of referrals. Our 25 doctor-advisers provide a high quality of support to doctors in difficulty contacting the service. As a means of supporting our advisers, we run an annual seminar on topics relevant to their work, providing ample opportunity for case discussion and support. Advisers also contact me regularly to discuss ongoing casework. I believe that the strength of this service is that it encourages colleagues to access help for their difficulties at an early stage, therefore, avoiding more serious consequences later on. I am taking forward work on refining clinical governance for the unit.

I believe a change of culture within the profession is vital if colleagues are to be able to come forward in confidence to access help. Wherever possible, I try to ‘spread the message’ at various fora such as talks to groups of doctors, articles in journals, and work with other professional bodies such as the GMC, Department of Health and the medical defence organisations. I am also involved in ongoing work with the Association of Anaesthetists.

The Unit continues to work closely with the BMA’s regional services staff, from whom the Unit receives a large number of referrals, to develop their skills in dealing with doctors in difficulty to offer a holistic approach to doctors they advise. As well as benefits to doctors consulting regional services, staff very much value the support and insight this gives to their work. This package of support for staff also has a positive risk management aspect. Recent work has included producing guidance on how to deal with difficult callers, which has been widely welcomed by regional service staff.

In December 2006, I attended the Annual Meeting of the Ontario Physician Health Programme (PHP) and the International Conference on Physician Health in Ottawa. At the Ontario PHP, I spoke on the work of the Unit and at the conference in Ottawa I presented my work on the BMA’s response to the London bombings. The BMA is to host the 2008 International Conference on Doctors’ Health. This is the first time that this prestigious event has been held outside North America and a working group has been formed to take forward planning for the conference.

Finally, I have met with the president of the GMC, Sir Graeme Catto and the chief medical officer for England and Wales, Sir Liam Donaldson. At these meetings, the work of the Unit was highlighted and the provision of funded, dedicated services for doctors in difficulty was discussed. As an outcome of the recommendations of the recently published white paper, Trust, assurance and safety – The regulation of health professionals in the 21 century, the Doctors for Doctors Unit will be working with the Department of Health to develop specific proposals for addressing the particular health needs of doctors.

I hope you find this publication both instructive and informative.