Understanding staff absence in the NHS

Even before covid, staff absence levels in the NHS were higher than those in the rest of the economy. With a pandemic of a highly contagious virus, and the service strain of dealing both with infected patients and pre-existing service pressures, it is little wonder that NHS staff absence has grown further in recent years.

In June 2022, the overall sickness absence rate for the NHS in England was 5.2% – higher than May 2022 (4.9%) and June 2021 (4.6%). The most reported reason for absence: anxiety, stress, depression or other mental illness. Most likely to be away were those providing support to ambulance staff.

Not all staff absence is inevitable. But reducing avoidable absence requires a much better understanding of the range of root causes, and a sensitive and appropriate response to them.

How, then, might NHS organisations develop such an understanding? What role might collection and analysis of workforce data provide? What sort of support do managers need to ensure is in place to reduce the risk of prolonged absence and help staff through ill health? How might leaders make targeted interventions for a positive and demonstrable change – for the health of their people and their organisation?

This HSJ webinar, run in association with GoodShape, brought together a small panel to consider the answers to these important questions.