North West reported highest number of NHS staff off sick in May - but not necessarily for COVID

The percentage of NHS staff of sick in May was the highest in the North West

Figures showing the overall sickness absence rates of NHS staff across England reveal that the North West recorded the highest rate of staff off sick in March and May this year, but not due to COVID-19. 

The most reported reason for sickness and absence were anxiety, stress depression and other psychiatric illnesses. 

Rates of sickness due to COVID-19 were present though. Sickness absence due to COVID-19 is calculated as a percentage of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) days lost due to all reasons.

All local care organisations in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside showed an increase in sickness absence due to COVID-19 between March and April this year. Most also saw a decrease between April and May, although numbers remained higher than the rate in March.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which covers The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary saw their rate rise from 12.5% in March to 30.5% in April and fall to 19.5% in May. 

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust which operates in Tameside General Hospital was the worst affected. Their rate rose from 18.2% in March to 35.3% in April and fell to 23.1% in May.

While lower sickness absence rates, in general, indicate lower levels of sickness absence it should be noted that lower rates can also indicate under reporting of sickness absence.

When compared to the rest of England, nearly 20% of all absences recorded were due to a COVID-19 related sickness in May. This is compared to 30.6% in April and 15.9% in March.

With the exception of Staff Grade, All staff groups apart from Staff Grade reported an increase in COVID-19 related sickness absence between March 2020 and April 2020.

The London region reported the highest COVID-19 related sickness absences as a proportion of all FTE days lost through absence in both March (26.0%) and April (40.0%). In May, the highest COVID-19 related sickness absence was reported by the South East (25.8%).

With the increase of coronavirus cases in Greater Manchester this may well relate back to absences in the next few months.

If you would like to view the data set, you can do so here.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in Tameside, Oldham or Rochdale? Let us know by emailing news@revolution962.com , calling us on 0161 621 6515 , tweeting us @rev962 or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.