‘Anxiety, stress and depression’ – just some of the reasons NHS staff in our region are being forced to take leave

The King’s Fund, a health think tank, said the high level of stress-related absences was a “wake-up call” for the NHS to tackle excessive staff workloads.

In total, 12,200 days were lost in health services in the region as a result of stress or related problems.

The latest NHS Digital figures show there were 6,500 days lost due to staff absences at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in February.

Of the lost days, 1,700 were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 27% of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was down from 32% in February the previous year and was down from 29% in 2019, before the pandemic.

Also, 11,300 days were lost due to staff absences at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in February.

Of these, 2,500 of them were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 22% of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

That was in line with February the previous year, but was a marginal increase from 21% in 2019, before the pandemic.

A fifth of staff sick days at the Dudley trust were due to stress-related reasons, there were 8,500 days lost due to staff absences at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in February.