Doctors and nurses face random testing for drink and drugs under radical plans being drawn up by the National Health Service.
The proposal, which is backed by the General Medical Council, is designed to prevent doctors and nurses working while under the influence.
NHS Trusts have held talks with companies specialising in testing for substance abuse in the workplace. 'They [the NHS Trusts] are very serious about it,' said one source involved in the talks. The NHS Confederation, which represents the trusts, confirmed that plans for tests were part of a review of work safety procedures.
'We know there is a high incidence of substance problems [among doctors],' said Alistair Henderson, policy manager at the NHS Confederation. 'It is a question of sifting through and supporting staff. [Tests] should not be show trials.'
Random drug tests in the workplace are increasingly common. Train drivers, military personnel and prison officers already face them. It is illegal for a company to allow intoxicated staff to endanger lives at work. According to some studies, up to 15% of doctors have a drink or drug problem in their lifetime.
The General Medical Council, responsible for upholding ethics in the medical profession, said it was in favour of randomly testing all NHS staff. 'Employers should have robust mechanisms for ensuring that doctors working for them are fit to practise,' a spokesman said.
The plans are likely to provoke fierce opposition. The British Medical Association has vowed to oppose random testing, calling for tests only if an incident arouses suspicion.
The Royal College of Nursing said random compulsory tests were an 'invasion of privacy', but would accept voluntary schemes.
Health trusts have yet to set a date for when the testing will start.
Medical students are overwhelmingly in favour of random alcohol and drug testing and pressured the BMA into considering tests last year.
Last year the GMC recorded a 50% rise in complaints against medical staff, many of which were attributed to younger GPs appalled at the practices of their senior colleagues.
Students told the BMA that random testing would help secure patients' goodwill as the medical profession struggles to stay self-regulated.
