Where to find wellbeing and support services alongside adjustments

What this article is about
This article explains where to seek wellbeing and support alongside special circumstances or reasonable adjustment processes.

Who this is for
Doctors and dentists in training who may need wellbeing, pastoral, occupational health, employer or professional support alongside a formal training process.

What you need to know

• Special circumstances and reasonable adjustment processes are not the same as wellbeing or clinical support.
• You should seek support early if your circumstances are affecting your health, training, work or ability to attend.
• Your employer may offer occupational health, employee assistance, wellbeing or HR support.
• Your Training Programme Director, educational supervisor or Head of School may be able to advise on training support routes.
• Urgent health, safety or safeguarding concerns should be raised through the appropriate urgent route.
• You should not wait for a formal application outcome before seeking health or wellbeing support if you need it.

What to do

1. Speak to your educational supervisor or Training Programme Director if your circumstances are affecting training.
2. Contact your employer if your circumstances affect work, attendance, health, safety, contract or rota arrangements.
3. Use occupational health or wellbeing support routes where available.
4. Raise a query through the PGMDE Support Portal if your training record or programme arrangements may need review.
5. If the matter is urgent, use the relevant urgent health, safety, safeguarding or emergency support route.
6. Keep records of support plans or agreed actions where appropriate.

If this does not work
If you are unsure which support route applies, raise a brief query through the PGMDE Support Portal and ask to be directed to the appropriate route. If there is immediate risk to health or safety, use emergency or urgent support routes.

Who to contact
Use the PGMDE Support Portal for training-related queries. Contact your employer for occupational health, HR, workplace wellbeing and urgent workplace support. Use emergency services or urgent health routes where there is immediate risk.

What HET can and cannot help with
HET can help with

• Directing training-related queries to the correct route.
• Liaising with programme teams where appropriate.
• Recording training-related decisions or support arrangements where required.
• Advising whether a formal training process may be needed.

HET cannot help with

• Providing clinical care, counselling, occupational health or emergency support.
• Replacing employer wellbeing or HR processes.
• Providing legal, financial or immigration advice.
• Guaranteeing specific placement, rota or employment changes.

Related articles

• Reporting a change of circumstances
• Requesting reasonable adjustments for recruitment and training
• Returning to training after a period of leave or absence

Last reviewed
 Last reviewed: 19 June 2026