A new wellbeing app for doctors in training in Scotland has been launched to try to give resident doctors the support that they need when they need it. In this guest article, Dr James Thorpe, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection Society (MPS) explains why supporting resident doctors’ wellbeing is a necessity, not a luxury.

"As a former general and vascular surgeon, and currently a medicolegal consultant supporting doctors through a range of issues that arise in their practice, I am no stranger to how a career in medicine can negatively affect doctors’ mental wellbeing, and how that in turn can impact on patient care.

All doctors, but particularly early career doctors, face a range of complex pressures and challenges day in day out and the need for pastoral, wellbeing and resilience support is becoming more important than ever. I would go as far as to say that retaining the highly skilled and passionate medical workforce we have in Scotland, and delivering the best patient care possible, is dependent on it.

A recent MPS survey of over 1000 doctor across the UK puts things into context - nearly 1 in 5 doctors (17%) described their mental wellbeing as ‘of concern’, and almost 3 in 5 (59%) said they are frequently exhausted or burnt out.

I had the privilege of delivering a talk last week at the Resident Doctor Wellbeing Day at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). The conference was supported by MPS’s research arm the MPS Foundation, BMA and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and organised by NHSGGC’s Dr Lewis Hughes and Dr Linsay McCallum.

Several key issues were discussed during the day – from how to recognise and manage burnout, and how to navigate difficult situations with patients and colleagues, through to understanding the impact of sleep deprivation, and the value of mentoring. These are all examples of things that are vital; doctors’ wellbeing isn’t maintained or restored by one single intervention but by a mosaic of things - culture, rest, mentorship, resources and support - both peer support and professional support.

A new Wellbeing App for NHSGGC’s resident doctors was relaunched at the event, signposting them to a range of wellbeing resources quickly and easily. The daily demands of the job means many doctors can struggle to find the support they need, when they need it, and this App should help in tackling that.

Foundation funding

The MPS Foundation, a global not-for-profit research initiative launched in 2022 by MPS, funded the development of the Wellbeing App as part of a grant awarded to NHSGGC’s Dr Linsay McCallum, Dr Stefanie Lip and Ms Sam Doonan. The Foundation has funded more than 60 research projects worldwide so far, addressing some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, including workforce wellbeing and patient safety risks. The 2026 grant programme is open for applications until 1 May.

The principle by which the Wellbeing App works could be easily transferable to other health boards and trusts, and it is positive to see NHSGGC - the largest NHS organisation in Scotland – leading the way when it comes to supporting staff wellbeing.

The conference also provided a space for resident doctors to present the results of their own wellbeing projects to their peers, promoting the sharing of ideas and learning. This is important. Mental wellbeing struggles can still come with a stigma attached and the more we can do to get these issues out into the open, the better.

Hopefully this will be the first in a series of conferences focussing on this topic. At MPS, we see firsthand how poor mental wellbeing affects doctors personally, and how it can impact on patient care. Without early support, mental wellbeing issues can also result in doctors needing extended time off work or quitting medicine altogether, which is the last thing we need. It is an issue that requires careful consideration by healthcare employers, and long-term thinking."

The MPS Foundation invests in research, analysis, education and training which enables medical and dental practitioners around the world to provide better care for their patients and improve their own wellbeing. The MPS Foundation is part of Medical Protection Society Limited (MPS), the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals with 130 years of global healthcare experience and expertise supporting more than 350,000 doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals worldwide.

MPS members can access a counselling service at no additional cost, as part of their membership, for work-related mental wellbeing issues. Members can access telephone support 24/7 days a week, and face-to-face counselling sessions can be arranged. The service is entirely confidential and independent of MPS.