STRESS-related absences in the NHS have risen by almost a fifth, new analysis has revealed.
The number of staff absent due to stress, depression and anxiety rose 17.6% between 2015/16 and 2017/18, statistics obtained by Labour through Freedom of Information show.
The equivalent of more than one million working days have been lost during this period. Ten health boards reported a rise in these types of absences while four recorded a decrease.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “It’s obvious that people working in the NHS are being pushed to the limit, often delivering high levels of care to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing.”
A spokesman for Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We take the welfare of hardworking NHS staff very seriously, and every health board is required to have robust policies in place when it comes to the mental health and wellbeing of employees.”
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