2023-2024, F1, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation School
I am a disabled doctor and navigating any new job with a disability can be very challenging. It was important to ensure that I got in touch with occupational health early to discuss reasonable adjustments for my disabilities (for example exemption from night shifts due to managing my blood glucose levels with diabetes).
Access to Work is also a very important organisation to contact. If you apply for Access to Work within the first 6 weeks of starting your role, they can help provide funding for equipment you may require to support your disability at work (for example, for my hearing loss I received funding for an electronic stethoscope). Some employers also have disability funding pots you can enquire about as well for small pieces of equipment (I was able to access funding for a headset to help me hear on the phone).
I ended up using my disability as inspiration for my Quality Improvement Project – I looked into formulating a resource document for Deaf and Hard of Hearing NHS workers, and went on to present this at national meetings to provide points for teaching and research presentations. Creating connections with other disabled doctors was important for me. There are many support groups (particularly on Facebook) for staff with disabilities that can be really supportive for sharing tips and advice. More generally for everyone there is the Tea & Empathy Facebook group that has a huge range of NHS professionals offering tips and advice (or cute pet pictures) where you can ask for support anonymously when everything seems a bit much. It is ok to feel overwhelmed or a little lost but do not be afraid to ask others for support (whether that be your supervisors, peers, foundation coordinator or even other members of the MDT) as everyone is always there to offer a helping hand.
If you are struggling, ask for advice sooner rather than later. Life can get chaotic at times, but there is support out there if you need it.