Personal Health Resources for Doctors, Medical Students and Families in WA

Doctor’s Health Advisory Service (formerly Colleague of First Contact)
(08) 9321 3098 – 24 hours/day, 7 days/week

For doctors in crisis, or not sure where to go for help with personal or health problems: 

This totally confidential 24 hour health service is available to all doctors and medical students.  It can be contacted by the person themselves, or by a concerned family member, friend, colleague or staff member. Callers do not need to identify themselves.  It consists of a panel of experienced male and female GPs, and is independent, reporting back to no medical organisation. Calls are exempt from the mandatory reporting requirements of the Medical Board of Australia.

Problems dealt with include stress, depression, suicidal thought, substance abuse, grief or concerns about illness. Sometimes the contact can be about impaired performance in a colleague. The panel GPs usually discuss the options available to callers when they are faced with a dilemma, or advise the caller on the most appropriate referral services.

Do you have a personal GP for annual consultations or for other matters?

It is recommended all medical students and doctors have their own GP. If you are having trouble finding one,  the “GPs for Doctors” program, run by Medicare Locals, provides information on self-care and a list of GPs who have offered to assist in treating their colleagues.

North of the River and East:
Roslyn Smith, Perth Central & East Metro Medicare Local
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.pcemml.org.au
Tel: 9376 9200

North of Scarborough Beach Rd:
Emma Parker, Perth North Metro Medicare Local
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Website: www.pnml.com.au
Tel: 9201 0044
 
South of the River:
Jane Butcher and Marita Sealey, Fremantle Medicare Local
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Website: www.fremantlemedicarelocal.com.au
Phone: (08) 9319 0555

Hospitals
Postgraduate Medical Education at RPH, SCGH and Fremantle.

Other Resources

Employee Assistance Program (for State Government employees eg. teaching hospital staff): Professional counseling service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a toll free number provided by:

• Converge International 1800 337 068, www.convergeinternational.com.au, or
• PPC Worldwide (from 1 Dec 2013) - 1300 361 008. www.au.ppcworldwide.com

Employees can gain access by self-referral or through key staff referring them. The service is available by telephone and face to face interviews, which take place in on -site counseling rooms or at another convenient location by agreement. Employees and immediate family members are eligible for up to three sessions for any issue where counseling is required. They are independent organisations and counseling is confidential. Employers do not know which employees have access this service.

RACGP members
GP support: 1300366789.
This 24/7 service provides access to free advice and up to three counseling sessions for RACGP members.

Rural Health West Family Support Program (for rural Drs and their families)
Phone: 6389 4500
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Australian Medical Association (WA)
ama.com.au/doctorshealth
Phone: 9273 3000 (Mike Prendergast or Paul Boyatzis)

For Anaesthetists:
Welfare of Anaesthetists Special Interest Group for Anaesthetists and Anaesthetists in training.  
http://www.anzca.edu.au/fellows/special-interest-groups/welfare-of-anaesthetists/introduction.html
Welfare Officers are in place at each teaching hospital Anaesthetic Department.

Website

Further information on Doctor’s health in Australia may be obtained from the Australasian Drs Health Network website www.adhn.org.au, or

• For junior Drs: www.jmohealth.org.au
• For medical students: www.amsa.org.au/projects/wellbeing/keeping-your-grass-greener/

Doctor’s Health Advisory Service

The Doctor’s Health Advisory Service in WA (DHAS WA) has compiled this paper.  For queries about the paper, or to add resource information to this list, contact the Convenor Dr David Oldham: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Members of DHAS are also available to give talks to medical groups on Doctors health.