Concerns about Health
Health concerns are common. Knowing who to contact when is key to finding solutions quickly.
Educational Supervisor
Your Educational Supervisor should be your first port of call for general health concerns that affect your training.
GP
All doctors should ensure that they are registered with a local GP in accordance with GMC good medical practice guidance.
Occupational Health
Occupational Health is usually accessed by referral by your line manager, but you can self refer. OH can be helpful for determining how your health concerns may affect working practice.
Staff support services
Staff Wellbeing – Staff Support (nhslothian.scot) has website resources specifically for staff members. This includes information about staff support, staff networks and raising concerns.
Peer support service
We know that healthcare workers prefer to receive support from their peers after a stressful or adverse event at work, or indeed if their personal stressors are impacting on their work life. Peer Supporters are trained to listen to their peers' feelings and concerns in a way that provides immediate, short-term support. They aim to enable colleagues to clarify thoughts and feelings, gain perspective, identify options, and feel calmer.
You can contact a Peer Supporter directly, either face to face or by email, or you can email loth.peersupport@nhs.scot and they can set you up with a Peer Supporter.
Here4U
All NHS and Health and Social Care staff can access free, fast and confidential wellbeing and psychological support from Here 4 U.
Our team can help by offering a safe space with a trained professional to talk about what has been happening for you. This could be about difficulties at home or at work, such as struggling with your mood, feeling anxious or finding relationships challenging. All conversations with our team are confidential. We do not communicate with your manager, team or GP.
To book a telephone or video appointment with a member of the Here 4 U team, click email loth.here4u@nhs.scot or call 0131 451 7445. You can leave a message at any time, and we will get back to you to arrange a time to speak.
Staff listening service
The Staff Listening Service is an appointment-based listening service for all NHS Lothian staff. It offers a place to explore your thoughts and feelings in a non-judgemental and safe environment. Staff can find themselves under pressure for a number of reasons. Whatever concerns you, the Staff Listening Service is there to offer confidential support from a member of the Spiritual Care team, and to signpost you to specialist services if appropriate.
To self-refer and book in:
Phone 0131 242 1990 (21990)
Email loth.stafflistening@nhs.scot
The service is available across NHS Lothian and runs on six hospital sites (RIE, RHCYP, REH, WGH, and SJH). Appointments last up to 50 minutes and are available across these sites Monday to Friday (except Friday afternoons). Staff can book in to a session on any site. Follow-up sessions can be made with your listener.
Occupational Health Contacts
Astley Ainslie Hospital / The Royal Edinburgh Hospital / The Royal Hospital for Sick Children - 0131 537 (4) 9369/70
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - 0131 242 (2) 6974/75
Western General Hospital - 0131 537 (3) 2300/2331/2203
St John’s Hospital - 01506 524 152 (54152)
Any member of staff can self-refer to Occupational Health. They will not share any information with your supervisor without your permission.
Additional support for doctors
National wellbeing hub offers support for all NHS staff in Scotland
Practitioner Health self-referral for mental health support (NHS staff UK-wide)
Trainee Development and Wellbeing Service Support for NES Doctors in Training
Wellbeing Lothian Online wellbeing mental health resource focusing on the Lothian population
