Stressed U.K. Doctors Turn to Drugs, Alcohol

Overworked physicians in U.K. National Health Service hospitals report facing stress, depression, physical assault, alcoholism or drug addiction because of their jobs and only 23 percent of them plan to stay until retirement.

A survey of 1,001 doctors throughout the United Kingdom found that 77 percent planned to retire earlier than age 65, change careers, do more private work, or move out of the U.K., according to Sky News. Three out of 10 said they were considering quitting the NHS to go into private practice and six out of 10 plan to take early retirement.

"Hospital doctors are paying a high price for their commitment to the NHS," reported Hospital Doctor editor Mike Broad. "Our research shows that rising workloads are having a damaging effect on both doctors' personal lives and career prospects. If the Department of Health fails to make a concerted effort to tackle the long hours work culture and improve work conditions in hospitals, doctors will walk and the NHS will face a staffing crisis."

The survey found that 84 percent of doctors and 89 percent of consultants thought their workload had increased in the past five years. Six out of 10 reported working more than 50 hours a week.