A 25 year-old Foundation Doctor realised she had an alcohol problem following a talk given by a member of the Sick Doctors Trust as part of their weekly teaching programme in the hospital they both worked in.
She contacted the member who arranged for admission to a detox unit (quite far away from home, at the doctor’s request). Following admission, she self-reported to the GMC, who did not suspend her, but after a Fitness to Practice hearing, gave her undertakings, including attendance at the local British Doctors and Dentists Group.
She was discharged from GMC follow-up after 2 years, and remains sober five years on, having remained on her training programme.