For doctors, medical students, dentists and vetsCall:02 9437 6552
About
Doctors' Health NSW
What we do
Doctors’ Health NSW (previously known as Doctors’ Health Advisory Service NSW) aims to ensure that every doctor, medical student, dentist and vet across NSW has ready access to healthcare.
Doctors’ Health NSW:
Advocates for doctors’ health and wellbeing
Independent of all professional, employment and registration organisations
Operates a confidential free 24/7 phone service for callers to speak with an experienced doctor
Run by experienced GPs and other specialised medical practitioners
Connected with a network of doctors, specialists and other services
Provides education and other activities relevant to doctors’ health and wellbeing.
Doctors' Health NSW strongly recommends that all practitioners and students have their own GP. The service provided by Doctors' Health NSW is not a substitute for seeking appropriate ongoing treatment and care from your own GP and/or other specialist.
Background
The need to help colleagues with personal and health problems has long been recognised by the medical profession.
NSW doctors who were concerned for colleagues, first met in 1975 to begin the foundations of the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service. With the support of the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW and the Australian Medical Association (NSW), a management committee was formed in 1982 and doctors and specialists were rostered to take calls from colleagues needing support.
The service is now a registered charity and is overseen by a board of directors. Since 2016 we have received some financial support from the Medical Board of Australia, administered by Doctors' Health Services Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the AMA. In 2022 the service updated its name to Doctors’ Health NSW.
Please note that although some funding is received from the Medical Board of Australia, Doctors’ Health NSW is strictly independent of all medical registration bodies and all other employment or training organisations.
Who we are
Board Members
Chair: Dr Ameeta Patel FRACGP, MBBS (Hons), DRANZCOG, GAICD Consultant General Practitioner
Director: Dr Penny Browne MBBS, FRACGP, MHL, GAICD Senior staff specialist, General Practice
Director: Ms Meredith McVey OAM Social Worker and Official Visitor, Ministry of Health
Director: Dr Luke Morphett B Med Sc (Hons), B Med, Grad Dip Genet Couns, FRACGP General Practitioner, General Practice
Director: Dr Choong-Siew Yong MB BS, FRANZCP, Cert Child Adol Psych, MAICD, FAMA Child and adolescent psychiatrist
Dr Timothy West MBBS FRACP Clinical Immunologist and Allergist and Director of Physician Education
Staff Members
Medical Director: Dr Kathryn Hutt MBBS, BSc(Med), MPH, MA (Applied Ethics), GAICD
Program Manager: Ms Samantha Hall
Clinical Program Manager: Ms Amy Webster BA(Psych), MA
Administrator: Ms Barbara Fleming
Confidentiality
Doctors' Health NSW does not collect any identifiable data without permission. You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless it is impractical to do so, or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
