Exclusive: One in ten nurse sick days down to stress or depression

A Nursing Standard investigation reveals worryingly high sickness rates due to mental health issues in nurses across the UK

Sickness absence remains a thorny issue for the NHS.

In 2009, occupational health expert Steve Boorman carried out a major government review of the health of the NHS workforce, highlighting the fact that 10 million days a year were lost to sickness absence.

Dr Boorman found that mental health conditions were a major contributor to NHS staff sickness – many reported significant levels of stress, with links to high rates of bullying and harassment.

Now a UK-wide investigation by Nursing Standard reveals that anxiety, stress or depression remain an issue.

‘It isn't inherently the work task, but rather how staff are managed and supported that drives the risk of sickness absence’

Steve Boorman

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