Dedicated to caring for the sick and vulnerable, junior doctors should expect to be supported and valued as they carry out their vital work.
But hundreds have revealed they are subjected to bullying and harassment at overstretched hospitals that have been plunged into a staffing crisis by a decade of savage Tory health cuts.
A Mirror investigation uncovered harrowing stories of young medics being denied drinking water during gruelling shifts, working for 15 hours on their feet non-stop and of uncaring managers tearing into them for breaking down in tears over the deaths of patients.
One was even accused of “stealing” surgical scrubs she took to wear after suffering a miscarriage at work.
The distraught woman finished her shift wearing blood-soaked trousers, instead of going home to rest.
Another got told off for merely splashing water over her face after losing a patient.
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Doctors are now quitting in their droves, leaving those left struggling to cope with a growing workload.
Our probe reveals the reality of working for an NHS which has been subject to a record funding squeeze and is 8,000 medics short.
Health chiefs vowed to investigate the Mirror’s evidence from 602 testimonials submitted to grass roots lobbying group Doctors Association UK.
Chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar said: “These heartbreaking stories from across the country show the extent of bullying and harassment that frontline doctors face whilst working to care for patients.
“Heartbreaking examples of being denied access to water after the tragic loss of a patient reveals how heartless and inhumane conditions can be.
“It is easy to see why the goodwill that the NHS relies upon has truly run dry.
“Doctors have spoken in their droves of being denied access to drinks, being accused of theft for eating a biscuit even though they’ve forgone breaks and this may be the only thing they eat or drink all day.
"A learned helplessness cannot be allowed to develop, it is vital that our doctors, the very backbone of our NHS are respected and looked after so that they’re at their very best when caring for patients.”
Doctors Association UK wellbeing lead Dr Natalie Ashburner added: “It is extremely disappointing that doctors are reporting a lack of access to basic resources such as water at hospitals.
“The effect of these inconsiderate, short-sighted decisions on the physical and mental wellbeing of staff who work long, anti-social shifts under tremendous stress in a climate of unprecedented demand for already stretched resources should not be underestimated.
"The NHS is already haemorrhaging doctors. Trusts must urgently take measures to make the mental and physical wellbeing of doctors a priority, creating a compassionate culture and remembering doctors are human too.”
The group compiled responses from closed online forums of medics.
Many said the events took place in their first year after completing medical school at the hands of ward or department managers – usually senior nurses. Being reduced to tears is a common theme.
NHS England Chief People Officer Prerana Issar said: “Our NHS staff should be able to eat, drink and rest during shifts and get support from their managers to take care of themselves, so we are keen to follow up these individual examples.
“The number of doctors working in the NHS continues to grow but we want to attract and retain even more to help improve patient care, and as part of that we are taking action to make the NHS the best place to work which includes improving culture and leadership at every level.”
A recent poll found almost a third of doctors may be suffering from burnout, stress and “compassion fatigue”.
A&E medics and GPs are the most likely to feel burnt-out and have the highest levels of exhaustion and stress, according to the report in BMJ Open.
A separate study has found two-thirds of obstetricians and gynaecologists had encountered traumatic situations during labour and birth.
The NHS has some of the fewest doctors in proportion to the population compared to other developed nations.
There are 2.82 medics per 1,000 people, placing Britain sixth bottom out of 29 OECD nations.
The number of full-time equivalent doctors in the NHS increased by 23% from 95,602 in October 2009 to 117,149 by last year.
But that came alongside a huge increase in demand on their workload, thanks to the UK’s aging population, problems accessing GPs and cuts to public health budgets and social care in the community.
NHS funding increases have been at a record low of 1%, compared to a 4% historical average.
The Department of Health and Social Care said of our investigation: “These accounts are deeply distressing. This type of behaviour has no place in our NHS and nobody should have to face bullying or harassment in the workplace.
“We take these kinds of reports very seriously and we’re committed to making the NHS a better place to work.”
