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Research at NHS Practitioner Health
Research Consortium
Research is important to our service to help us to understand which treatments work better for patients, develop new ways of delivering our service and to demonstrate the outcomes and impact we are having when we provide care. We have a unique dataset which we have used to undertake NHS Ethics approved research projects into NHS PH outcomes and specifically outcomes for addicted doctors (see Publications).
We also support projects led by our research partners in the PH research consortium which is a loose network of UK researchers in the field of practitioner health (see below), and with the European provider network to help understand how practitioner health services can improve the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce.
We are currently involved in a major research project in collaboration with the University of Westminster using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate 1 year outcomes and pathways to recovery for doctors at Practitioner Health. These 2 studies are at the stage of being written up for publication following 2 pilots (see Publications). We also have a study in progress looking at predictors of burnout in PH doctors.
If you are looking to NHS PH to collaborate in a research project please read our research guidelines.
European PHS network
The European practitioner health provider network is a forum in which provider services can discuss, reflect and advise on mental health and addiction treatment, the impact of physical health and/or personal circumstances on mental health, psycho-educational support and preventative services for doctors and other health professionals. We aim to support existing and developing providers of services, share ideas and carry out joint projects.
Research Guidelines
If approached by an individual or organization about the possibility of conducting any sort of research in any of our services, please follow the guideline below:
- Please direct the researcher that all proposals should be put in writing to Dr Jenny Keen in the first instance with a brief research outline for consideration.
- Please let the researcher know that we receive many requests to carry out research with our patients or using our data, and the following principles are in place regarding research in the service.
Principles underlying research in PH
Rationale for research
We have a unique resource in our patient base and existing databases. However the principle must be respected that patients’ participation is requested only when the potential research outcomes are worthy of the intrusion on the patient’s time and goodwill.
This is particularly the case in any study where we would need to look at individual patient records, interview patients or in any way ask patients to forgo their right to 100% confidentiality.
Scope of research
- We particularly welcome research proposals which evaluate treatment outcomes
- We also welcome research on new aspects of treatment provision
- We are not able to support research regarding baseline data (levels of distress in doctors, etc) as this is already well documented in the literature
Research infrastructure
- We would expect all research within the service to be aimed at publication in a peer reviewed journal, and this will mean seeking NHS ethics committee approval before research can commence
- We are not commissioned to support research and have no funding available for this purpose. For this reason we would particularly welcome fully funded research
- When research funding is sought we would ask to be involved at an early stage
- Where research requires significant input from PH staff including clinician input, we would seek to have this staff time costed into the research proposal
- We are not able to support research which does not involve an active academic partner who can offer statistical, library and other research infrastructure facilities
For any further enquiries, contact us.
Publications
Mental illness and suicide: when do we say enough is enough?
Published October 2023
Evaluation of NHS Practitioner Health: capturing mental health outcomes using five instruments
Authors: Kieran Simpson, Mark Ashworth Sarah Roberts-Lewis and Salma Ayis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: June 2021
NHS PH 8-year outcomes of doctors treated for substance use and addiction disorder
Addictions paper: A peer-reviewed 8 year outcomes study of addicted doctors at NHS PH, led by Dr Shivanthi Sathananden and Dr Jenny Keen
Post‐traumatic stress disorder in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Doctors
Article by Dr Clare Gerada in the BJOG
January 2020
Doctors deserve to work in an environment that doesn’t make them sick
Article by Dr Clare Gerada in the BMJ
January 2020
A sense of belonging is vital for doctors
Article by Dr Clare Gerada in the BMJ
October 2019
Doctors, Suicide and Mental Health
Article by Dr Clare Gerada published in BJPsych Bulletin
2018
Doctors and Mental Health
Article by Dr Clare Gerada published in Occupational Medicine, Oxford University Press, Volume 67, Issue 9
30 December 2017, Pages 660–661
Evaluation of NHS Practitioner Health: capturing mental health outcomes using five instruments
Paper by Kieran Simpson, Mark Ashworth, Sarah Roberts-Lewis and Salma Ayis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2021
One size does not fit all: exploring GPs' perceptions of resilience training
Paper by Anna Cheshire, John Hughes, Damien Ridge, Maria Panagioti, David Peters, Chantal Simon & George Lewith.
British Journal of General Practice, 2017, 67 (663)
Practitioner Health Covid Experience - Meeting the mental health needs of doctors during the pandemic
Author: Dr Clare Gerada
Published May 2021
Predictors of suicidal ideation in UK doctors: retrospective case - control study from NHS Practitioner Health
A new study published in BJPsych Open using data from Practitioner Health has identified predictors of suicidal ideation among UK doctors.
Published November 2025
Contact
NHS Practitioner Health
Riverside Medical Centre
Hobart House
St George Wharf
London
SW8 2JB
Telephone: 0300 0303 300
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