The study, published in Addiction by academics from King's College London's School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, found that doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are dying from overdoses of drugs they may have stolen from the workplace, or obtained legally but used in risky ways with fatal consequences.

Lead author Dr Caroline Copeland, director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, said: ‘This report makes for distressing reading and is a reminder that we need to do better to look after the people who care for us.'

Researchers analysed 58 coroners reports from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, submitted to the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality at King's College London between 2000-2022. The individuals had either been employed at a hospital, GP practice, pharmacy or were studying to become a healthcare professional at the time of death. All had access to controlled drugs.

Opioids were the type of drug most frequently involved in causing death (43% of cases), followed by benzodiazepines (24%), which are used for treating anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Drugs rarely found to cause death in non-healthcare professionals were heavily featured in these deaths, including drugs usually for anaesthesia or sedation like propofol (29%), short-acting benzodiazepine midazolam (10%) and neuromuscular blocking agents (9%). There were only three cases where illegal drugs, such as cocaine, were in the person's system at the time of death.

Most of the accidental deaths occurred in men (88%) and suicides were more prevalent in men (63%). Two-thirds of people died in their own homes or hospital accommodation, and when people died in hospital (17%), 70% died in a hospital toilet cubicle.

The authors found 69% of the deceased had at least one mental health condition, where the past medical history was provided, with depression being the most common condition.

Recent life events could have negatively impacted mental health in 64% of cases, but in three cases the healthcare worker died by suicide after being informed that they were subject to a professional misconduct or criminal investigation.

In 14% of cases, where a past medical history was available, the deceased had been self-medicating to relieve chronic pain.

Dr Copeland added: ‘This is an urgent problem as the suicide rate among healthcare workers is 24% higher than the national average in the UK. Doctors and nurses work in stressful, high-pressured environments and need bespoke care and support tailored to the specific challenges they face. Having a healthy, well-supported workforce is key to making the NHS fit for the future.'