Support for Locums/Sessional GPs
Being a locum whilst it gives huge flexibility, can lead to people feeling isolated. It is vital both for you professionally and personally to make sure you look after yourself and keep linked in with others. Each person is different and in the world now there are multiple ways of finding that support.
Here we suggest some different organisations or groups that you might wish to consider.
Local Support
You can contact our office to access the local help available through the LMC all of which can be found here. including the Somerset Safehouse website that has a lot of useful information including a secure area where a local advocate can be contacted for support.
Also ensure that the LMC office has your contact details and e mail address in order to keep in touch and keep you up to date with our weekly bulletin. The LMC Committee Locum and Sessional Representative is Dr David Stewart.
NHS GP Health Service
The NHS GP Health Service is a confidential NHS service for GPs and GP trainees in England.
The GP Health Service can help with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression, or an addiction problem, in particular where these might affect work.
GPH is not a service for individuals with mental health problems which require specialist psychiatric input though it can help provide additional support. If you think that you have a mental health problem that requires this level of specialist help you must contact your GP to seek help.
GPH is provided by health professionals who have additional expertise in addressing the issues concerning doctors. These clinicians are available in various locations across England. NHSE (our commissioners) require that they are able to offer a clinical assessment within one to two hours traveling time.
Access the service by emailing gp.health@nhs.net or by calling 0300 0303 300. The service is available 8am – 8pm Monday – Friday and 8am – 2pm Saturday.
Please note the service is not for emergency or crisis issues. These should be directed to mainstream NHS.
The GP Health Service can help with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression, or an addiction problem, in particular where these might affect work Click here for further reading: http://gphealth.nhs.uk/
Small Groups
GP Survival http://www.generalpracticesurvival.co.uk
First Five groups Somerset GP Education Trust
Tiko's GP Group on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/tikosgpgroup/ - Appropriately anonymised clinical issues
Your lifeline: Why you should join your local Sessional GP group: https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/the_practice/b/weblog/posts/your-lifeline-why-you-should-join-your-local-sessional-gp-group
