In this rapidly moving and challenging time, NHSE YH have created this specific webpage resource with the aim to help keep our doctors and dentists in training up to date and informed. We also hope this resource will be helpful for our PGMDE faculty and partner NHS trusts and wider stakeholders.

We expect that many staff are going to want additional support during the next few months and beyond. We want to support you. You can find details of support available to all Y&H Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) below. We are also making this support available to Trust doctors and senior staff.

These are challenging times, it is ok not to be ok.

We will all react to Covid-19 in different ways – as well as being concerned for our patients, we might be concerned for our own health, and that of our loved ones or colleagues, we might be feeling challenged because we are going to have to do a different role, and feel anxious about that, we might be challenged by what’s going on with regard to recruitment, exams, career progression. And that’s before we look to wider socio-economic challenges regionally, nationally and globally. There’s enough to be thinking about right now. We hear your anxieties.

The good thing is that there is lots of support available, should you need it. In fact there is so much out there it may be tricky to identify the best source for you. You will already have your own tried and tested sources of support amongst friends and family - don’t forget to carry on doing what you normally do to feel ok. Here is what is additionally available:

Trust or Medical School Support

Trusts

All Trusts across the deanery have established wellbeing support services which you will be able to access. Try looking on the local intranet, Trust social media or asking your supervisor for more information.

Medical Schools

If you are an interim foundation year 1 doctor the medical schools in Y&H have devised a package of support which you can access.

NHS England Support

Coaching

Coaching offers you time to think without judgement in a confidential space.

Click here to access the Coaching website

All our coaches are clinicians and involved in medical education, so will understand the pressures you are under and how these impact on your training. There is no communication between your coach and your training programme or employer. This makes it a really helpful place to explore workplace challenges. You can have a one-off session, or several sessions, depending on your needs – your coach can help you decide. You can also have a call to talk through with someone how coaching might be of benefit to you. Contact coaching.yh@hee.nhs.uk stating your full name, grade, place of work and specialty.

Psychological Support

Workplace Wellbeing is a Postgraduate Doctor in Training (PGDiT) psychological support services available to those working in South Yorkshire.

Please telephone: 0114 226 1810
Email: workplace.wellbeing@shsc.nhs.uk
Click here for the website

Take Time is a psychological support service based in Leeds available to Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) in West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire and the East Coast.

Email: taketime@leeds.ac.uk

Peer support

We recognise the enormous value of speaking to others who can relate to what you are experiencing. If you would like to speak to a peer, rather than a coach, we are now running a peer support scheme. To access this please contact england.peersupport.yh@nhs.net stating clearly that you wish some peer support. You will be matched with another Y&H Postgraduate Doctor in Training (PGDiT) who has received training in peer support, and then emailed each other's contact details. You can connect when it is mutually convenient – this is confidential, and independent from your training programme, and all about your wellbeing.

Skills to help you help others

As described above we are now running a peer support scheme. You may wish to offer your peers or colleagues some structured support during this time. If so you can train as a peer supporter via a one hour zoom session. You will learn how to run a 6 step model for a peer support session. If you are interested, check out the 'key qualities of a peer mentor' document at the bottom of this page. To access the training, email peersupport.yh@hee.nhs.uk stating clearly that you wish to train.

Follow up sessions via zoom will be available for any questions you may have and for supervision.

Up-coming sessions

Peer Coaching Skills Workshop (session 1) is taking place on Wednesday 5^th January 2022 at 12pm to 1pm
Peer Coaching Follow-up Q&A (session 2) is taking place Thursday 20^th January 2022 at 12pm to 1pm

Lots more available in the 'additional support services for Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs)...' at the bottom of this page 

Additional Support Services for Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs)

BMA Wellbeing support services - freely available resources for doctors and medical students– available 24/7

BMA Advice - Worklife

BMA Advice and Support COVID-19

Contact: 0330 123 1245

Practitioner Support Service:

Dedicated mental health support for all NHS doctors and dentists
Thriving at Work

Specialty-based Support - you may be able to get support via your School or College. You can access these avenues of support by looking on the relevant webpages for your School or College.

Additional Resources

Mental Wellbeing Resources for all - collated by York GP Training Scheme

Ten Percent Happier

Feeling overwhelmed? Remember 'RAIN'

Unmind - mental wellbeing done well

NHS Employers - free access wellbeing apps for NHS staff

Documents: