Stressed out NHS
The number of NHS staff in Lanarkshire off work because of stress has soared by more than 15 per cent in the last three years.
As a result, the equivalent of more than 162,000 work days have been lost during this period, heaping further pressure on hospitals and health services.
Central Scotland MSP Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard called the rise in absences “a source of great concern”.
He said: “Clearly more and more work is being expected of NHS staff because they are not being given the support and resources they need.
“NHS staff are amongst the most hardworking and dedicated group in society but many are being pushed to the limit, often delivering high levels of care to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing.
“Staff in our National Health Service have told us repeatedly they need additional resources to meet society’s needs.
“Sc o t t i s h L a b o u r ’ s workforce commission will consider current and future needs with a focus on making the NHS fit for the future.”
The number of days lost has risen dramatically from 51,151 in 2015/16 to 58,857 in 2017/18.
NHS Lanarkshire director of human resources John White said the board have prioritised support for staff and have boosted workforce numbers in a bid to decrease staff stress levels.
He said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is of paramount importance to us.
“We offer a vast range of support, including physical and mental health services, to help our staff to both remain in work and return to work.
“We recognise that mental illness, both personal and work-related, is a significant reason for absence. As such, we have prioritised enhanced support for staff experiencing mental ill-health.
“Our workforce has increased by 150.47 whole time equivalent posts over the last three years.”