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Appeal for GPs to join fitness-to-practise doctor support service

The BMA is recruiting doctors to join its confidential support service as ‘doctor supporters’ to provide help to those who are facing fitness-to-practise investigations.

The Doctor Support Service – commissioned by the GMC – provides a free, emotional support service over the phone to doctors that are being investigated by the regulator.  

Doctors who join the support service will be paid on an hourly basis, and will provide up to six hours of emotional support over the phone for each case and up to two days of support at an FTP hearing if required.

Mike Peters, the head of the Doctors for Doctors unit, said: ‘Going through a fitness-to-practise procedure may be very stressful and having emotional support through this process can be hugely helpful. 

‘I feel that being a doctor supporter is an opportunity for a doctor to support colleagues through this difficult time.’

Earlier in the year, the GMC committed to funding the doctor support service for at least another a year after the pilot found users of the initiative ‘derived real benefits.’ 

The deadline for applications for the ‘doctor supporter’ position is on 5 June.