Thousands of student doctors and nurses are paying other academics to write their university essays, a MailOnline investigation reveals.

Hundreds of shadowy websites peddle essays on all topics from asthma to cancer, allowing student medics to avoid writing essays themselves.

Dr Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London said that this calls into question the integrity of NHS staff and raises concerns about other forms of malpractice.

'The real danger is that doctors who have cheated go on to other forms of unscrupulous behaviour,' he said.

'They are developing a lack of integrity while at university.

'The public would be outraged to know that the doctors responsible for their care are cheats.'