Doctors’ health service delayed

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 5

Doctors’ health service delayed

PA Wellington A doctors’ health advisory service will now not be functioning until March, said a spokeman for the service.

The service alms to provide counselling and welfare for doctors impaired by drugs or alcohol, or afected by mental or physical illness.

Problems recruiting doctors for counsellors in the Auckland area have set back the plans.

The service is to provide early intervention for doctors with illnesses that could interfere with their ability to practise.

Colleagues and family or doctors concerned about their health will be able to ring a national Help hotline based at the Medical Association in Wellington.

The call will be referred to a regional counsellor for investigation and appropriate profes-

sional help. A spokesman for the management committee setting up the service, Dr Robert Crawford, said there were problems finding doctors to act as counsellors and help with administration in the Auckland area.

In Wellington and Christchurch, there were no such problems. Auckland would probably be divided into two regions to make the Job easier for counsellors.

The service was aimed at helping doctors before they put their patients at risk and before disciplinary sanctions had to be used, he said.

Based on overseas experience, about 70 per cent of the referrals would be for doctors who were victims of drug or alcohol abuse, and about 30 per cent would be suffering from mental or physical disorders.