NHS: Sick Leave

(asked on 20th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS workers returning to work will be subject to an interview after seven days absence in line with routine process or whether that requirement will be relaxed during the covid-19 pandemic.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 27th March 2020

National Health Service employers are responsible for managing sickness absence in their organisation and it will be up to each individual employer to decide whether they continue with return to work interviews or decide to relax the process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department continues to commission NHS Employers to provide guidance, advice and resources for NHS trusts to manage sickness absence. A toolkit specifically designed to manage sickness absence can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/retention-and-staff-experience/health-and-wellbeing/action-on-sickness-absence

NHS organisations need to take a collaborative approach to supporting staff and this includes closer working with occupational health providers who can provide proactive support and guidance to staff who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

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