The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Long-term staff sickness a ‘concern’
Movestotackle problem of absences
The Scottish Ambulance Service is facing challenges over long-term absence among staff, its chairman says.
The service held its annual review in the Caird Hall yesterday, with members of the public and service staff able to ask questions of the board and health secretary Shona Robison.
Attendees were also given a demonstration by the Tayside trauma team, who explained how they would treat a severely injured man in a road accident.
It was to illustrate how the ambulance service is constantly evolving with new protocols and technology.
The report, which was delivered by Scottish Ambulance chairman David Garbutt, showed the service had already achieved its efficiency savings for the year set by the Scottish Government.
These were made by reducing the overtime budget, something Mr Garbutt believed would help reduce absences related to stress, anxiety and depression in the long term.
An audience member, via the live web broadcast, asked the board for a figure on absence levels as a result of stress, but chief executive officer Pauline Howie was unable to produce one.
Further questions by The Courier about the figure were not answered at time of going to press, but it is understood more than 4% of staff are absent long-term.
The review highlighted efforts the service is making to reduce stress, anxiety and depression-related absences after piloting a mindfulness training programme for staff, as well as providing management training in relation to general sickness absence.
The main cause of long-term absence in the service was identified as muscle and skeletal issues, with the physical demands of the job being singled out as a major contributor.
Mr Garbutt said: “Long-term absence is still a significant concern.
“Our absence levels are of concern, but looking at benchmarks across other ambulance services in the UK, we are not the highest.”
It is also believed the £78 million being invested – a large amount of which will go to upgrading ambulances – will help reduce absences because of the technology which will be installed in them.