Doctors are taking to drink and drugs as the government's targets culture pushes stress levels to a new high, a report has argued.

The survey of medical professionals finds that only 23 per cent of hospital doctors planned to stay in the NHS until the retirement age of 65.

Of those remaining, 60 per cent intended to retire early, while a further three out of 10 planned to leave to establish private practice chambers.

The poll, by Hospital Doctor magazine, found that over half of those questioned felt their clinical autonomy had fallen since Labour came to power.

Many reported that they were unable to spend enough time with their families, blaming stress, depression, alcoholism and drug addiction on their jobs.

Eight in 10 of those surveyed said their workload had increased over the past five years.

Some 90 per cent of consultants said they were working harder than before.

"The increase in medical workload, exacerbated by Labour's pathological obsession with targets, has gradually eaten away at professional freedoms," said shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox.

"The inevitable result of this is a reduction in personal satisfaction, self esteem and morale.

"This Labour government just doesn't seem to understand that it is the medical professionals, not the central bureaucracy, who are keeping the health services afloat."