Register with a GP who is neither friend nor family and who will ensure that professional boundaries are maintained in all decision making.
Though you will have your own thoughts on diagnosis and appropriate interventions, bring an open mind to the consultation and just ‘be a patient’.
An Irish study on GP trainees found that 57% had informally consulted a colleague regarding their health needs and 35% had referred themselves directly to a consultant, bypassing their GP. Furthermore, 92% had self-prescribed on at least one occasion. This is ill-advised as it results in compromised level of care.
Most GPs are very comfortable with treating doctors as patients and are registered with the HIP Network. You may contact the network to find the name of such a GP in your area if you have not already registered.
View the National GP Directory for NCHDs, Trainees and Interns
All public hospital employees in Ireland now have access to occupational health services. These are based on site in the larger hospitals or accessible off-site in some areas. Each is clinically led by a specialist / consultant occupational physician who provides a service with a team of nurses and administrative staff. All work closely with physiotherapists who can ‘fast-track’ access to treatment for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and also have access, directly or indirectly, to counselling support services, which may or may not be on site.
Occupational health deals with the interface between health and work but encompasses a broader remit of work and work environment (including psychosocial environment), health and ill-health as well as life and lifestyle.
A very strict code of ethics underpins occupational health practice, augmenting the Medical Council’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics (7th Edition). Occupational health professionals are mindful of the importance of respecting confidentiality. They have a particular skill in communicating effectively with employers and managers on fitness for work issues without disclosing confidential health details.
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a national initiative that offers confidential counselling and referral services to hospital staff experiencing psychological stress.
The EAP gives you access to trained, experienced counsellors who will help you to develop coping strategies in a non-judgemental confidential environment.
You can contact your local Employee Assistance Programme directly - self-referrals are accepted.
Some Employee Assistance Programmes offer a 24-hour helpline, depending on the hospital group.
If you contact an Employee Assistance Programmes, you can avail of prompt confidential referral to a counsellor independent of the Occupational Health Department in your hospital.
The Occupational Health Department in your hospital will only ever be contacted by the Employee Assistance Programme if there is a concern for your safety or patient safety.
The RCPI Mentoring Initiative is a confidential mentoring service which operates on a self-referral basis, at no cost to Trainees. These doctors have received specialised training on how to mentor and can help Trainees who are dealing with issues such as:
Trainees who contact RCPI to request support will be matched to the mentor who is best equipped to offer support for that particular Trainee. Our mentors will share their knowledge and experience and will help Trainees achieve the best results. Our mentors are committed to supporting Trainees’ development.
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