NHS nursing staff absence: going to work in sickness and health

A total of 6.9 million days were lost to nurses’ sickness or absence in NHS England in the year April 2023-March 2024, with the most common reason being anxiety, stress or depression. Though this is below the peak of absences in July 2022, many UK nurses say that due to staff shortages and workload pressures they feel unable to take time off when ill. We look at the figures, and how the profession compares to others in the health service.