Mental health 'main issue' behind NHS absences

Rising levels of staff sickness at a community NHS trust in Shropshire are causing concern to leaders, with conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression being named as the main issue behind it.

Sickness absences across the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (Shropcom) have increased every month for almost a year - the most recent figures show 5.7% of the workforce is off with long or short-term issues.

The trust has a target to have no more than 4.75% of its workforce off sick.

Shropcom's board told a meeting on Thursday that it had had to draft in "slightly" more agency and bank staff cover to fill the gaps.

Health bosses forecasted that the organisation could spend about £1.5m more than planned on agency and bank staff by the end of the financial year, with one of the reasons being to cover for sickness absence.

It also had about 122 job vacancies. Its workforce is made up of about 1,600 people.

Trust leaders said they would continue to encourage staff to take the flu vaccine and were giving support to managers and employees.

They also said a "deep dive" into the causes of neck, shoulder and back pain were being carried out by physiotherapists to develop videos to help prevent those issues.

A campaign will be launched later this year to encourage individuals to take regular breaks among ways to look after their health and wellbeing.

Bosses will also raise awareness of the benefits of flexible working and will make sure that staff plan and book annual leave.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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