Stressed GPs hitting the bottle, pills

ONE in seven British GPs has turned to alcohol or prescription drugs to help them deal with job stress, a survey has found.

Many admitted to “self-medicating” with wine, sleeping pills, antidepressants or high blood pressure drugs.

Of the 835 GPs who took part in the survey, 12%, or one in eight, said they used alcohol to relieve the stress. Another 6% took prescription drugs, while a total of 15% drank, used drugs or both.

One in 10 said they had been off sick with stress during the past year, while a further 23% expected to be soon.

The survey, carried out by Pulse magazine and the GMB union, comes as rising numbers of GPs retire or quit due to the hours, workload or lack of investment.

Almost half of GPs who responded, 45%, said their stress levels had affected their ability to care for patients.

Dr Kate Dick, a GP in Exeter, England, said: “Sheer volume of work is making me less sympathetic at the end of the day? I am not the best GP I could be at this time.”

Another GP said: “I drink a bottle of wine most evenings after work, and often take codeine to help me get to sleep.

“I am also on long-term antidepressants, as are a lot of my colleagues.”

NHS England said it understood the pressure on GPs and had launched a service to help them deal with stress and mental health problems.