CORONAVIRUS – Support from the Society
We are working hard to support our seafarers during these difficult times and, as far as possible, it’s business as usual.
- Free mental health and wellbeing advice and support for all seafarers and their families – available as usual through online provider Togetherall (previously known as Big White Wall) – Click Here
- SAIL – free, confidential and impartial advice from the Citizens Advice service for seafarers on benefits and other issues – Click Here
- Grants for urgent needs, priority debts, household items etc – we are working closely with our partners to ensure that grant applications are processed as quickly as possible. Apply as usual through third party caseworkers including SAIL, SSAFA, the Fishermen’s Mission and Nautilus – Click Here
- Free physiotherapy for working seafarers – consultation and assessment now available by telephone and video instead of face-to-face, plus online exercise classes and other tools – Click Here
- Dreadnought Medical Service – during the Covid-19 crisis, and in line with other NHS services, all elective work at St Thomas’ Hospital using the Dreadnought Medical Service stopped. However, the good news is that the NHS is now encouraging hospitals and GP’s surgeries, etc, to reopen as normally as possible – including for acute procedures. Seafarers who need elective procedures can visit their GP or MCA-approved doctor to request a referral to the hospital via the Dreadnought Medical Unit. Those with existing referrals will be contacted directly by the hospital. Unavoidably, there will be delays as normal service slowly resumes, but it is good news that the important medical services for seafarers upon whom the country and the economy rely, are slowly returning.
- SeaFit Programme – health and wellbeing support still available to fishermen and their families by phone and email but all events suspended – Click Here
Welcome to the Seafarers Hospital Society
Looking after the health and welfare of seafarers and their families since 1821
The Seafarers Hospital Society (formerly known as the Seamen’s Hospital Society) is a long-established maritime charity dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and advice needs of seafarers.
We provide health and welfare grants to seafarers and their dependants, and to the maritime organisations that care for them. We also support a number of other services provided exclusively for seafarers.
If you are or have been a merchant seafarer or fisherman, we’re here to help you and the people who depend on you. We also provide advice and support to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel through SAIL – see below.
How can the Society help you?
We can support you in a number of ways:
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Grants to help you out when money is short
Disability aids and equipment, essential household goods and other unexpected expenses – these are some of the things we may be able to help with.
Find out more about how the Seafarers Hospital Society can help you -
Advice service for seafarers
The Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line (SAIL) is a national telephone advice service provided exclusively for seafarers. It’s run by Greenwich Citizens’ Advice Bureaux on behalf of the Seafarers Hospital Society. SAIL provides free, confidential and impartial advice and information to seafarers on a wide range of issues – welfare benefits, housing, employment and more.
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Supporting health and fitness for seafarers
Keeping fit and healthy is very important for seafarers but getting fit and healthy, and staying fit and healthy, can be particularly challenging when you work at sea. We support a number of projects and services designed to make it easier, including hands-on physiotherapy and diet and fitness advice. We also invest in a number of pilot projects to find out what’s needed and what works best.
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Confidential mental health and wellbeing service We offer a free, confidential service to seafarers who need help with mental health and wellbeing issues, which is run by Togetherall (previously known as Big White Wall) on our behalf. It includes access to trained counsellors, a support network, self-help materials and one to one therapy.
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The Dreadnought, a special medical facility for seafarers
Based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London and supported by the Society, the Dreadnought offers priority NHS medical treatment for those working at sea.