23.07.14
NHS sickness absence rate falls to five-year low – HSCIC
Sickness absence rates in the NHS 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 NHS sickness absence rates report shows that NHS workers had, on average, one day off sick out of every 25 in 2013-14, a 4.06% absence rate. This is a drop from 4.24% in 2012-13.
Ambulance staff had the highest average sickness absence rate for January-March 2014, with an average of 6.78%. Nurses, midwives and health visitor learners had the lowest average at 1.10%.
Regionally, staff in the north west had the highest sickness absence rate of 4.6%, compared to 4.69% in 2012-13 and 4.86% in 2009-10. The lowest rate was in north central and east London at 3.36%, compared to 3.45% in 2012-13 and 3.5% in 2009-10.
Kingsley Manning, chair of HSCIC, 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.
“It is important that NHS organisations are able to monitor absences at all levels to ensure that they have a full picture of the health and well-being of the NHS workforce that provides care to patients seven days a week, 365 days of the year.”
Coinciding with the release of this data, the NHS Employers organisation launched a new online tool to further improve the management of staff sick leave in the NHS.
‘Everything you need to know about sickness absence’ is designed to help managers support staff with a ‘confident and consistent’ approach.
The tool includes 30-second guides in each of the following areas, to encourage the spread of good practice: when staff call in sick; staff frequently off sick; staff with long term sickness; common reasons for absence; supporting staff off sick; supporting staff to return to work; and preventing absence.
Sue Covill, director of employment services at NHS Employers, said: “We all recognise that healthy, well supported staff are happier in their roles and can give better care. It’s a huge credit to managers and the workforce that sickness absence is falling at a time when the NHS is working exceptionally hard to deliver great care.”
However, Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said the figures should be treated with caution as the RCN’s Beyond Breaking Point report showed significant levels of ‘presenteeism’ in the nursing workforce.
“Many NHS staff feel like they have no choice but to come into work even when unwell due to pressure from managers, intimidating sickness management processes and short staffing,” he said. “Until NHS managers address these issues, there is no cause for congratulation in these figures.”
The Office for National Statistics also publishes statistics on sickness absence, which show that public sector sickness absence rates have been declining, from 4.2% in 1994, to 3.6% in 2004, to 2.9% in 2013.
Sickness absence has been on a downward trend in the private sector too, though is consistently lower than the public sector (it was 2.6% in 1994, 2.4% in 2004, and 1.8% in 2013).
NHS sickness absence rates have been consistently higher than for central or local government employees, and women have consistently higher sickness absence than men across all sectors. Larger organisations record higher sickness absence.
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]