A south Warwickshire doctor has claimed the NHS is being blighted by a toxic workplace culture - which is pushing staff to the brink.

Amy Attwater, 36, has worked for the nation's health service for nearly 12 years - much of it in A&E.

But she says her work made her go from a happy and outgoing person to withdrawn and experiencing panic attacks.

Amy, who lives in Leamington Spa, also alleges that bullying and harassment are "huge issues" in the NHS.

But she says most doctors are too afraid to talk about it - which is why she is speaking out.

Amy said: "I got to the point where I was completely burned out. I called into work one morning hysterical as I was suicidal about going in.

"It made me question myself and my ability to care for patients. I had been a doctor for 10 years - I knew what I was doing.

"I have a lot of colleagues who want to talk about how badly they were bullied but they are scared to."

Amy started working as a doctor in 2011 and has worked in several hospitals since. She claims the culture is pushing staff to breaking point.

"Often doctors are shamed into silence. Morale is at an all-time low in the NHS with rates of burnout, and sadly even physician suicide, on the rise"

Amy said: "I have always been an A&E doctor, always at the frontline where the pressure is highest and we feel that.

"We are so overwhelmed, we are nowhere near giving patients the care they deserve.

"This wouldn't be the case if we didn't have underfunding.

"I have heard stories about doctors using cupboards to examine a patient's testicles or putting a sheet around the patient in public areas to examine their chest.

"You have doctors worrying they might have made a mistake due to the sheer volume of patients they are seeing."

Amy also claims NHS staff get "no control" over their time off - with one doctor having to work her wedding night.

Amy says her work made her go from a happy and outgoing person to withdrawn and experiencing panic attacks (image via SWNS)

She said: "I know one colleague who wasn't allowed time off for their own wedding and ended up working the night shift of their special day.

"They take full advantage of our sense of duty and treat us like we are never off duty."

Amy believes that the NHS needs wide reform from top to bottom and the Government needs to introduce a short, medium and long-term plan.

She said: "We need a huge cash injection in social care so we can stop blocking beds and get a good patient flow.

"At a trust level, we need far more guidance in regard to racism and misogyny.

"We need basic human factor training of how to look after people, it is crazy we go into this caring speciality but nobody is caring for NHS staff themselves.

"We need to also be looking at pay restoration. I know doctors in London who are using food banks.

"They expect us to give so much but they give us nothing in return."

Amy also says she has also spoken to a trainee doctor who raised claims about being harassed by another member of staff.

The trainee alleged the worker made unwanted, "lascivious comments" about them while on shift.

Screenshots of messages supposedly from the trainee show it made them feel "very uncomfortable".

"We need to also be looking at pay restoration. I know doctors in London who are using food banks"

Amy is involved with the Doctors' Association UK, which is run by frontline doctors.

A spokesperson said: "The NHS is Britain's greatest treasure.

"Yet it still cultures a hierarchy of bullying, harassment and appalling training environments, which go unchallenged.

"Often doctors are shamed into silence. Morale is at an all-time low in the NHS with rates of burnout, and sadly even physician suicide, on the rise.

"Along with the Royal Colleges, we have set up a campaign lobbying for 'Compassionate Culture' where we ask doctors to share their positive experiences, being treated with compassion.

"Through this, we hope to set up examples of exemplary practice to encourage a change in culture and provide a kinder NHS."

The NHS did not provide a comment when approached.