Nurses’ sick-days tally shows urgent need for well-being support
Posted 03 October 2023 - 13:41
NHS sickness absence data reveal cost to nurses’ mental health of workload pressures at a time when government funding for staff well-being hubs ended
Nurses’ anxiety, stress and depression accounted for more than 130,000 sick days in England’s NHS in one month, sparking calls for an urgent review of staff’s mental health support.
Latest NHS Digital data show more than half a million working days in the NHS were lost to mental health issues in May 2023, with nurses accounting for more than a quarter of the absences, with 132,374 days. Stress, anxiety and depression was cited as causing 25% of the nurse absence, up two percentage points since the same time last year.
Mental ill health is by far the most common cause of absence, ahead of musculoskeletal problems with 46,759 days lost (8.9%), and cold and flu, which accounted for 45,966 (8.8%) days.
Nurse sickness absence figures make the case for safe staffing and protected breaks
Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said the data showed ‘burnout is a reality on every ward’.
‘The ever-growing waiting list for treatment shows the relentless demands on the NHS that have left dedicated health workers grappling with their own mental health,’ she added.
‘Current support for mental well-being at work needs urgent review, alongside ensuring safe staffing levels are maintained and that health workers are able to have regular breaks. Otherwise, this year’s delays will be repeated as high sickness levels are exacerbated by the winter flu season.’
Loss of funding for staff well-being hubs leaves nurses without crucial mental health support
NHS Providers director of policy and strategy Miriam Deakin said the figures were exacerbated by high workload and uncertainty over the future of staff mental health hubs, after the government stopped funding them in March.
She added: ‘Front-line staff are working incredibly hard against a backdrop of rising operational pressures, over 125,000 vacancies and ongoing strike action. The data show in stark detail the psychological strain staff across acute, mental health, community and ambulance services are under.
‘The loss of funding for staff well-being hubs has left many NHS staff without much needed access to crucial mental health services.’
The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England were contacted for comment.
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