Asking for help is a positive and sometimes brave step towards receiving what we need and is vital for maintaining good emotional and mental health and recovering from a period of mental ill-health.

Emotional support and mental health support, including access to individual counselling, is available at all our hospitals for all our staff.

To access this service simply complete a self-referral form or a management-referral form found here.

This confidential service is outlined in the video below and can be reached by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Advisors are available for support Monday-Friday between 9am-4.30pm.

Please note, the service no longer operates out of hours as this video says.

Samaritans – support for NHS

The Samaritans have reintroduced a support line for NHS staff, available on the number below 7 days a week or text FRONTLINE to 82528.

Additional national support

NHS national support: Text FRONTLINE to 85258.

Filipino helpline: available seven days a week between 7am and 11pm on 0300 303 1115 or 24 hours via text by texting Frontline to 85258.

Care first

Care first provides confidential, impartial advice and support 24 hours a day every day on freephone 0800 174319. The service is free to access whenever you need and can be available for your close family. The trust will not know if you have contacted Care first.

Services include emotional support and counselling, telephone information and advice and on line services including an interactive health and fitness portal and an online resources containing information and advice on many life issues from finances to relationships and work issues.

To access on line services you have a choice of usernames of poole or RBCH and our password is wellbeing.

• Find out more about Care first here.
• An information leaflet can be found here.
• Confidential support for all staff.

Able Futures

Able Futures are an external organisation providing confidential mental health support for individuals (staff or family). Accessing the service is easy and quick; via their online self-referral form or by calling their helpline:

• Call the helpline number on 0800 321 3137 (Open from 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday).
• Find out more on the Able Futures website here.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

A directory of our MHFA First Aiders is currently being put together and will be included here. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When we are in financial difficulty there is help available - No one should go hungry

If you are in financial difficulty or crisis, help is available through food banks across Poole and Bournemouth. To access this support you can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (ext 2820) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (ext 4438) in confidence as both are able to issue vouchers through the Trussell Trust to get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

Trained Citizens Advice advisers are available to assist in financial difficulty. Please ring 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) to talk confidentially with an adviser who can help address your crisis and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. You can also contact Care first, our 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme on Freephone 0800 174319.