NHS: Sick Leave

(asked on 18th November 2015) - View Source
Questioner
Portrait
Baroness Greengross
(Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what cost was incurred by the NHS due to days lost through the sickness of healthcare workers in each year between 2009 and 2014.

Answered by
Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait
Lord Prior of Brampton
This question was answered on 1st December 2015

The number of days lost through the sickness of healthcare workers between 2009 and 2014 were:


England

Full Time Equivalent Days Lost to Sickness Absence (includes non-working days)

Full Time Equivalent Days Available (includes non-working days)

Sickness Absence Rate

2009-10

16,745,315

380,199,666

4.40%

2010-11

15,947,054

383,278,845

4.16%

2011-12

15,555,507

377,908,880

4.12%

2012-13

15,947,518

376,187,354

4.24%

2013-14

15,385,468

378,691,376

4.06%

2014-15

16,423,722

386,388,483

4.25%


Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre


The Government does not record the cost incurred by the National Health Service due to days lost through the sickness of healthcare workers.


Employers are responsible for reducing the days lost through sickness of their staff. The Department supports the NHS by commissioning NHS Employers to provide trusts with advice, guidance and good practice on improving NHS staff health and wellbeing which is available on an online only resource at:


www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/retain-and-improve/staff-experience/health-work-and-wellbeing/protecting-staff-and-preventing-ill-health/supporting-line-managers/managers-guide-on-supporting-workplace-mental-health/supporting-staff-who-are-experiencing-mental-health-problems


NHS Employers is also working with NHS England and Public Health England on a £5 million initiative to improve NHS staff health announced in its Five Year Forward View. A copy of the ‘A healthy NHS workforce’ announcement is attached.


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