Annual NHS national sickness absence rates in England are at their lowest point since 2009-10, when they first started being recorded by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).
The latest figures show that NHS workers, on average, had one day off sick out of every 25 in 2013-14 – a 4.06% absence rate. This is a decrease in the number of days off sick from 2012-13, when the sickness absence rate stood at 4.24% (one day off out of every 24).
Commenting on the figures, Kingsley Manning, HSCIC chair, said: “The NHS workforce is diverse in terms of the occupations and skills needed, compared to many other business sectors. Staff can be faced with situations that are physically and psychologically demanding which could increase the risk of illness and injury. The report shows that NHS staff absence rates have decreased over the last five years, with one day out of 25 being lost due to illness.
“It is important that NHS organisations are able to monitor absences at all levels to ensure that they have a full pictureof the health and well-being of the NHS workforce that provides care to patients seven days a week, 365 days of the year.”
