From Barnsley LMC Wellbeing Lead:
Barnsley Local Medical Committee (BLMC) is committed to providing its constituents with a variety of services to give GPs and their practices the support they need.
This Wellbeing page brings together a range of services and schemes to support wellbeing and enable individuals to look after their own health and know when to seek help before difficulties arise. At a time when the stress and pressure on practices is greater than ever the wellbeing of ourselves and our colleagues particularly important. With this in mind BLMC has collated a series of resources which may be of help.
Resources for medical professionals
NHS Practitioner Health
Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating healthcare professionals.
For more information and to access the service go to https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
Telephone: 0300 0303 300 / email: prac.health@nhs.net
There is more information about Practitioner Health here: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/about-practitioner-health
BMA
The BMA offers Counselling and peer support for doctors and medical students
Confidential 24/7 counselling and peer support services open to all doctors and medical students on 0330 123 1245 or via the online portal.
NHS Employers
NHS Employers information regarding access to well-being apps
https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/2020/03/free-access-to-wellbeing-apps-for-all-nhs-staff
NHSEI
NHSEI offers the resources below
NHSE Health & Wellbeing for primary care
Looking after you too – coaching support for all primary care staff
Looking After You Too: coaching support for BAME staff working in the NHS – one to one wellbeing coaching support offer for BAME colleagues in the NHS workforce. Further bespoke health and wellbeing offers can be accessed at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/support-for-our-diverse-colleagues/
Looking after your team – coaching support for those who lead, manage or organise a team or group in primary care
Follow this link Primary Care Coaching – Link to Assets to a range of resources, including social media assets, a video, PDF case studies and posters, website and email banners
NHSEI has funded the development and ongoing delivery of a mental health and wellbeing hub to support staff who work in West Yorkshire & Harrogate HCP organisations – free of charge, across all sectors. The hub brings together individual therapeutic services with mechanisms and services that emphasise prevention and developing a culture of wellbeing including a team of psychologists and psychological therapists trained to deal with trauma, stress and burnout; depression and anxiety.
More resources
E-Learning for Health Training Modules – Looking after yourself
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Catalogue/Index?HierarchyId=0_45016_45125_45552_45553&programmeId=45016
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges advice regarding sleep during the Coronavirus outbreak
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published WHO Mental Health Considerations During COVID-19.
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf
The Royal College of Nurses has guidance on self-care during COVID-19 and a counselling service.
Resilient Practice raises awareness of the importance of personal resilience in modern life and includes a Resilience Gap Analysis Tool and opportunities to improve self-awareness.
Joyful Doctor provides free support resources for doctors and medical students.
Resources for staff
NHS Employers has developed resources to support staff wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.nhsemployers.org/covid19/health-safety-and-wellbeing
Resources for the general public
MIND UK and Every Mind Matters have published specific resources in the context of COVID-19.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/
The World Health Organisation have produced an excellent easy to read single side guide to coping with stress during the Coronavirus outbreak
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/coping-with-stress.pdf?sfvrsn=9845bc3a_2
Qwell for Men is a safe and confidential online space for men to share experiences and gain support from a community or qualified professionals. They can join online peer support communities, access self-help materials or engage in drop-in or booked one-to-one online chat sessions with experienced counsellors. The service has been commissioned by Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership and is available to men living in North Yorkshire, York, Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The online service can be accessed by visiting https://www.qwell.io/hcv
Apps
There are some good wellbeing apps available that could be valuable to you whilst working in healthcare during this pandemic.
- Free Wellbeing Apps for NHS Staff– a great collection of free wellbeing apps including SilverCloud (use access code: NHS2020), Headspace, Unmind, Sleepio, Daylight and cbtclinics
- App for Mindfulness– an app for positive mental health training from the Positive Mental Health Foundation
- Talkspace– Free therapy for impacted health workers
- Clementine App– Hypnotherapy Sessions – here are 3 new hypnotherapy sessions designed with the help of ICU nurses for careworkers
- Movement for Modern Life– an online yoga app that gives you access to some world class yoga teachers. NHS staff are being offered free access to this app, all you need is an NHS email address to sign up
- Liberate– Liberate have partnered with the NHS to offer free subscriptions until December 2020. Liberate Meditation offers culturally sensitive and diverse meditations and talks that have been curated for the BAME community. The app aims to help reduce anxiety, alleviate stress and promote rest
Mentoring
Barnsley LMC offers free mentoring and coaching to all GPs regularly working in Barnsley GP practices
GPs who are eligible can contact the GP-S service to be linked to an appropriate peer mentor within a number of days. Individuals can then access up to 4 sessions of support lasting 2 hours each over 12 months to discuss anything they’d like in confidence and work to create positive steps forward.
GP-S can be used by anyone who would like to explore ways to develop themselves or have a problem or opportunity they’re not sure how to move forward with. This could be personally, professionally or within your career. We aim to build resilience in the General Practice workforce by allowing you time and space to develop your personal goals.
As this is a confidential service you can contact the scheme directly and, unless you give permission to share further with us BLMC will only be told the number of GPs that have accessed the service. However, if you do feel happy to share your experience we would be pleased to hear from you.
Crisis Support
Message from Dr Clare Bannon, Medical Secretary, Barnsley LMC
Barnsley LMC is here to provide pastoral care with many years’ experience of defence bodies, NHSE and GMC procedures and is able to provide personal and confidential support for individual GPs in difficulty or experiencing major change. For example it can include helping an individual GP through difficulties linked to contractual, financial or performance concerns signposting to other professionals where appropriate. Further support including attendance at performance meetings and/or support getting appropriate medical care when required can also be provided.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for colleagues to contact Barnsley LMC for help as early as possible when difficulties arise so that as much support as possible can be provided.
However, it is never too late to make contact.
I can be contacted in the first instance through the LMC office or via my contact details in the members area.
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw wellbeing hub
In these unprecedented times, staff need support more than ever. The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Health & Wellbeing Hub provides access to 24/7, 365 support, self help information and fast-track access to therapy where needed
The hub is completely confidential, free to use and here to support you when you need it most. Care is provided by highly qualified professionals.
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Health and Wellbeing hub here to help, call: 0330 380 0658
Other information and support
NHS – Supporting our People
A range of guidance and resources to support NHS colleagues in their own health and wellbeing as they look after others is available at https://people.nhs.uk/
GP signposts for Yorkshire and the Humber
The GP signposts for Yorkshire and the Humber ( https://portal.yhcs.org.uk/web/gp-appraisal/home ) is a directory of services for Yorkshire and the Humber with the aim to provide further details of support, career opportunities and contacts to supplement the national pack. The document will be reviewed and updated frequently.
NHSE GP Support Pack
The NHSE GP Support Pack ( https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/gp-career-support-pack/ ) sets out the various types of support available throughout the career of a general practitioner in England. The guide focuses on support for GPs – not the practice or the wider system.
Cameron Fund
The Cameron Fund is the GPs’ own charity and the only medical benevolent charity which solely supports general practitioners and their dependents. The Cameron Fund | The GPs’ Own Charity
We provide support to current and retired GPs, as well as their families, in times of financial distress, whether through ill-health, disability, death or loss of employment. We help those who are already suffering from financial hardship and those who are facing it.
Ways they can help GPs, and their dependants include:
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw’s People’s Hub
The People’s Hub has been developed for all staff in the five South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw CCGs, the ICS, and colleagues in NHS England and Improvement and Health Education England who will be affected by the upcoming transition.
Here you will find all the up-to-date information regarding the development of the Integrated Care Board and any new information surrounding the NHS White Paper. There will also be supporting information including Wellbeing support, HR contacts, Training resources, any Job opportunities and upcoming workshops.
A list of contacts is also included, from the ICS and each CCG, should you need any further support.