Doctors are 'most trustworthy'

People find doctors hardworking, committed and helpful

Scotland's most trustworthy individuals are doctors, a survey has suggested.

More than nine out of 10 people said they trusted doctors to tell them the truth, a higher rating than for any other profession included in the poll.

The result, from Mori's annual survey of trust in the professions, rated politicians and journalists low at 24% and 20% respectively.

In the UK doctors were also voted the most trustworthy at 92% - the highest rating since the poll started in 1983.

After doctors, the most trusted professions in Scotland were teachers, 91%, and judges 80%.

I am delighted that people continue to believe that doctors are hardworking, accommodating and remain committed to the NHS and their patients Dr John Garner BMA's Scottish Council

Looking more closely at the profession, more Scots deemed doctors to be hardworking at 92%, committed at 87%, and helpful at 89% than in the rest of Britain where doctors were less respected at 87%, 85% and 83% respectively.

More than half of the 199 adults questioned across Scotland thought doctors were underpaid, while 52% said doctors were supported by the NHS.

Chairman of the BMA's Scottish Council Dr John Garner said: "Doctors will be pleased that at a time when the NHS is under such pressure, the public continues to hold them in such high regard.

"The public's views of doctors are very different to the stereotype we have become accustomed to.

"I am delighted that people continue to believe that doctors are hardworking, accommodating and remain committed to the NHS and their patients."