MDU initiative sees foundation doctor members raise over £30,000 for the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the Doctors’ Support Network

Foundation Year 1 members (FY1) of the Medical Defence Union (MDU) have raised over £30,000 which will be divided between the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the Doctors’ Support Network, two charities which provide health, wellbeing and financial support to doctors and medical students across the UK.

The MDU reduced the first-year subscription from £10 to £5 for FY1 members who donated the remaining £5 to the two charities. Due to the success of this initiative in 2021, the MDU will continue the partnerships to raise additional funds for both charities in 2022.

Dr Matthew Lee, the MDU’s chief executive, said:

“Every day we hear from members who are struggling under intense psychological, social and financial pressures so we were keen to find ways to promote and support organisations who could help.

“I am delighted that through this initiative, our foundation year 1 members have raised over £30,000 so far and we look forward to continuing our partnership with both the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the Doctors’ Support Network in 2022.”

Professor Michael Farthing, chair of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, commented:

“We are very grateful that the MDU’s foundation members have helped us to raise funds so that we can continue to support doctors and their families during an extraordinarily difficult time for the profession.

“All the money raised will help the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund to provide financial support, advice and information when it is most needed due to age, ill health, disability or bereavement.”

Dr Louise Freeman, co-chair of the Doctors’ Support Network, said:

“Doctors are more likely than non-doctors to have poor mental health but can find it difficult to seek help and often feel isolated, as if they are the only one with a problem.

“From experience, we know that peer support can play a valuable role in doctors’ recoveries. The money raised by this MDU initiative will ensure that we are able to support more medics via our confidential and accessible peer support network.”

Click here to learn more about the MDU’s charity partnership scheme with the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the Doctors’ Support Network.