Burnout is commonly experienced by all specialties, including dermatology. Staff mental health and wellbeing hubs set up by NHS England have been established to provide health and social care colleagues rapid access to assessment and local evidence-based mental health services and support where needed. The hub offer is confidential and free of charge for all health and social care staff.

The hubs can offer you a clinical assessment and referral to local services enabling access to support where needed, such as talking therapy or counselling. It is separate and confidential from your organisation.  You can self-refer or refer a colleague (with their consent).

The National Wellbeing Hub has been set up in Scotland to support healthcare workers in the country. In Wales, an Our Wellbeing Matters document has been produced to help support staff.  Staff health and wellbeing resources can also be found for healthcare staff in Northern Ireland on the Public Health Agency website.

NHS staff have also been given free access to a number of wellbeing apps to support with their mental health and wellbeing.  More information and a list of apps can be found on the NHS England website.

NHS Employers also have a Wellbeing Hub with useful links and contacts that cover a wide range of issues.

Mindfulness

Mind’s information hub provides advice on how to support your mental wellbeing. This includes practical advice on coping with going into work, managing stress, loneliness, tips for keeping your mind healthy, and updates on how the new coronavirus laws could affect your rights.

Mindfulness can have great benefits to your wellbeing as an effective way to relax the body and mind and reduce stress and anxiety.

The vast majority of these apps are free and a great way to start your mindfulness journey:

Useful contacts and numbers:

• BMA Counselling: 0330 123 1245, wellbeingsupport@bma.org.uk
• BMA/ GMC, Doctor Support Service: 020 7383 6707, doctorsupportservice@bma.org.uk
• BMA – Wellbeing support services directory
• BMA – Are you concerned about a colleague?
• DocHealth (run by Consultant Medical Psychotherapists based at the BMA), 020 7383 6533, enquiries@dochealth.org.uk
• Royal College of Nursing – Counselling support services
• RCNi – Wellbeing centre (requires login)

See the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges support for doctors page for more contacts covering issues such as financial help and addiction.

Guidance for hospitals:

GMC- Caring for doctors, caring for patients:

NHS Employers health and wellbeing framework 2022: This framework is a high-level culture change toolkit aimed at health and wellbeing staff. Start by using the strategic overview document to understand the toolkit and what it can support you in, then use the organisational diagnostic tool for benchmarking and identifying improvements. The wider toolkit will help develop your health and wellbeing strategy, improvement plan and how to evaluate impact.