Key resources and organisations that can offer you support if you are experiencing personal or professional difficulties
We understand that whilst working in O&G is rewarding, it can sometimes come with its challenges. Supporting the O&G workforce is a key priority for the RCOG, so that our members are able to deliver the highest levels of care to the women and girls they look after.
We offer a range of support services for O&G doctors, including supporting doctors returning to work after time out of clinical practice, peer support, improving workplace culture and behaviour and guidance on job planning.
On this page:
Urgent support
There is always someone you can talk to. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
- Samaritans
Call 116 123 for free, any time.
Samaritans provide 24/7 confidential emotional support by phone, email, letter or in person.
Visit Samaritans website - Shout
Text SHOUT to 85258.
Free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support for anyone struggling to cope.
Visit Shout website - BMA counselling and peer support
Call 0330 123 1245.
A free, confidential 24/7 support line for all doctors and medical students.
Visit BMA wellbeing support services - Mind
Mind offers resources if you're experiencing a mental health crisis.
Visit Mind’s crisis resources
If your life is at risk
- Call 999
- Go to your nearest A&E, if you can
- Call your local crisis team
Mental health and wellbeing support
It is important for all doctors to look after their own wellbeing. There are a range of professional resources and support available when you need it.
- DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit, psychotherapeutic consultation service open to all practicing doctors in the UK.
- Doctors in Distress is a UK independent charity dedicated to providing mental wellbeing support to healthcare workers, aiming to reduce suicide rates. They offer a free weekly support group with an experienced facilitator for UK healthcare professionals. You can attend every week or drop in when you feel you need to.
- Doctors Support Network (DSN) is a confidential peer support network for doctors and medical students with concerns about their mental health.
- Mind is a mental health charity which offers services such as crisis resources and their confidential helplines which can support you with mental health and related legal issues.
- NHS Mental Health provides information and support for your mental health including mental health services, talking therapies services, and self-help support.
- Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health and care professionals. It is a self-referral service. They also host a free to access wellbeing podcast.
- You OK Doc? supports doctors' mental health and wellbeing. Includes a podcast, bespoke resources and an online community to chat informally and confidentially with other doctors about life as a medic.
- You Are Not a Frog – a podcast for doctors sharing real stories and practical tools to help you navigate the pressures of high-stakes work. Because you’re not alone, and there’s always a way forward.
Physical Health
General
There are a number of organisations that offer physical health and wellbeing support for NHS staff.
Fatigue
It is important to understand the impact of fatigue on individuals’ health, and the impact of fatigue on doctors’ care for their patients. Fatigue has been shown to decrease ability to retain information and concentrate, impair communication skills and can cause a lack of empathy.
The RCOG endorse the Fight Fatigue campaign, developed by the Association of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine. The resources in the Fight Fatigue information pack are relevant for all healthcare staff.
Workplace based injury
Several studies have documented the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries amongst those working in O&G. These injuries are particularly common in the back, shoulders, arms and wrists. Therefore, prevention and early intervention measures are crucial.
For further information on ways to prevent work-related injuries, please visit the NHS Employers’ website for their article on musculoskeletal health in the workplace and signposting to additional resources regarding musculoskeletal health.
Addiction support
If you are struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, the below organisations will be able to help you.
- Alcohol support – NHS-endorsed resources for alcohol problems including national helplines.
- Addiction support – NHS-endorsed support for addiction, including drug and gambling addictions.
- Sick Doctors Trust – support for medical students and doctors who are concerned about their drug or alcohol use.
Pregnancy and fertility
- If you are pregnant while working in O&G, there are a number of sources of information to support you during pregnancy, maternity leave and returning to work.
- The Royal College of Nursing ‘having a family toolkit’ covers your rights at work and answers frequently asked questions on pregnancy, maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay.
Calling it out: racism, discrimination and harassment support
To protect the wellbeing of yourself and others, if you have concerns such as (but not limited to) personal or patient safety, workplace bullying, discrimination or harassment this section helps to signpost you on the appropriate routes to seek support and escalate concerns.
NHS trusts and health boards also have whistle blowing guidelines and policies for escalation, particularly about patient safety.
Many NHS trusts and health boards also have racial equality and diversity networks to support staff from ethnic minority backgrounds, offering mentorship and advocacy.
If you are struggling with your wellbeing, there are a number of national organisation that can help you. Visit the mental health and wellbeing support section of this hub for more information.
Further support resources:
- ACAS can provide support with advice on discrimination and bullying at work.
- BMA’s raising a concern: guide for doctors supports you through the process of raising a concern.
- BMA’s equality and diversity guidance includes information and support on a wide range of issues including bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- Freedom to Speak Up Guardians support workers to speak up when they feel that they are unable to do so by other routes.
- The GMC’s ethical hub collates resources to help you address important ethical issues and incorporate good practice into your work within your competence. This includes advice on speaking hub, tackling racism in the workplace and identifying and tackling sexual misconduct.
- Workplace Behaviour Champions promote positive workplace behaviours and offer guidance on workplace conduct.
- RCOG Workplace behaviour toolkit has information for you if you feel you have experienced bullying or undermining or you have been witness to these behaviours.
- Surviving in Scrubs raise awareness about sexism and sexual assault and are working with national healthcare organisations and regulators to challenge this culture and push for change. As well as sharing survivor stories of sexism, harassment, and sexual assault in the healthcare workforce, they signpost to key sources of support.
- Trauma Response Network is a registered charity which provides free therapy and support to people in Great Britain affected by a mass trauma event.
Disability support
- Disabled Doctors Network supports physically disabled and chronically ill doctors and medical students, providing them with much needed advice, guidance and support.
- Practitioner Health has published factsheets devoted to the health and wellbeing of disabled doctors.
Legal support: complaints and investigations
It is important for doctors to understand and be covered for all issues affecting their professional practice. The RCOG recommends that all doctors working in UK medical practice secure independent, individual medico-legal cover.
The BMA and GMA provide more information on medical indemnity and medico-legal support.
Visit this eLfH resource, Maternity insights: closing the loop, learning from harm, which enables clinicians to explore the key principles of the claims and litigation processes, applied to the context of maternity care.
For legal advice, visit:
- Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs): Provide legal support, advice, and representation for clinical and non-clinical issues. Examples of MDOs include:
- BMA Law provides provide specialist legal advice to medical professionals.
Dealing with complaints, coroner reports and inquests, or patient safety investigations can be very challenging. The below resources are available to support you when things go wrong.
- The GMC have collated information and support for doctors under investigation.
- Practitioner Health have collated information to support doctors going through a coroner’s inquest.
- The BMA offers guidance and support for doctors who have had a complaint made against them.
- MPTS provide guidance and information for doctors to help prepare for a hearing.
- NHS Resolution have a number of educational resources to support the health service to learn from harm. These include modules on inquests, maternity and speaking up.
- Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) programme carry out independent investigations into certain patient safety incidents that happen in maternity care in England. They do not place blame on individuals or investigate individual members of NHS staff. Find out more about the investigation process.
- HSIB are a professional body in England that investigate patient safety concerns. For an overview of what to expect if you are involved in a HSIB investigation, visit this HSIB blog which outlines support for NHS staff involved in patient safety investigations.
Support after a traumatic event at work
Caring for a patient who is seriously harmed or dies unexpectedly can be incredibly hard. It is normal to need support when events such as these occur.
Overall support:
- Contact your Educational Supervisor, Training Programme Director, or Clinical Director.
- Many hospitals and deaneries have excellent local peer support or professional support units.
- Access local occupational health/staff counselling.
- Discuss the emotional and psychological impact of work during Schwartz or Balint rounds, if available in your hospital/region.
- Second Victim Support is a resource for clinicians who have experienced a significant personal or professional impact as a result of a patient safety incident.
- If you are struggling with your wellbeing, there are a number of national organisation that can help you. Visit the mental health and wellbeing support section of this hub for more information.
RCOG Good Practice Papers:
- Managing Events Surrounding a Maternal Death and Supporting the Family and Staff: This paper provides operational guidance for all healthcare professionals in maternity services, and all other specialties supporting partners, families and staff following a maternal death, with the intention of making the process compassionate, consistent and straightforward for all those involved.
- Prevention and Treatment of Work-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in the Maternity and Gynaecology Workforce: This paper provides a framework for the prevention, identification and treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms in the maternity and gynaecology workforce, which, in turn, should improve the safety and experience of women and families in their care.
Workplace support
Visit the RCOG Supporting Our Doctors page to find resources to support doctors in difficulty, including managing workplace challenges.
The below organisations can also offer you support in the workplace:
- Most NHS trusts/health boards provide in-house occupational health support for work-related stress or health issues.
- NHS Employers provide guidance on workplace rights, contracts, and employment issues.
- NHS Leadership Academy offers training and resources to help doctors develop leadership skills and advance their careers.
- Royal Medical Benevolent Fund provides financial support, money advice and information to doctors at all career stages. They also offer advice on topics including mental health, physical health, returning to work and careers.
- The BMA can offer you support with pay and contracts, as well as advice and support on career progression.
Wellbeing apps
- Headspace teaches meditation and mindfulness, helping you to lower your stress, deal with anxiety, focus more and sleep better.
- NHS staff have been given free access to a number of wellbeing apps to support with their mental health and wellbeing.
- Unmind is a mental health platform that empowers staff to proactively improve their mental wellbeing.