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NHS Sickness Absence

NHS workers have average sickness absence rate of  - see more 4.1 per cent, says new report. In the first three months of 2009/10, the NHS sickness absence rate was 4.1 per cent, says a new report from The NHS Information Centre. 

Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:    "There is a solid connection between staff health and good standards of care. So it is in everyone’s interest to make the health of NHS staff a priority. The Boorman review identified much room for improvement in occupational health arrangements for health workers. Hopefully the recommendations in this report will give NHS staff the support they need and lead to cuts in sickness rates.

“However, you cannot compare  sickness rates in the NHS with the rest of the population – it is like comparing apples and oranges. Sadly, almost 55,000 NHS workers were physically assaulted just in England last year. This violence means staff will need time off to recover.   In addition, working in the NHS is physically and mentally demanding with back and needlestick injuries, shift working and cross-infections all taking their toll on workers’ health”  see full report

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