WITH ever increasing pressures on the NHS more than 1,600 staff at Warrington and Halton NHS Trust have had to take absences due to mental health problems over the past three year.
Figures obtained following a new investigation by Legal Expert found that Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has seen 1,631 staff members take absence due to mental health reasons since 2021.
Earlier this year, it was announced that government funding ended for a national network of mental health and wellbeing hubs that were established in 2020-21 to support NHS frontline workers during the pandemic.
These hubs served as a vital lifeline for a workforce in crisis, and closures across the support network have led to the number of staff absences due to mental health reasons rising year on year.
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust runs two hospital sites and more than 30 community hubs and facilities across the Halton and Warrington boroughs.
In 2021/22, the number of staff at the trust who took a day off for mental health reasons stood at 544.
A year later, this number decreased to 504, which is the lowest number of staff absent over the three-year period.
The past year has seen a rise in staff absences due to mental health issues, standing at 583.
In response to the findings, Michelle Cloney, Chief People Officer at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, said: “We know that our NHS staff are working incredibly hard and we recognise the challenging climate both inside and outside of the workplace which can impact on staff mental and physical wellbeing.
“The Trust is committed to supporting staff in work so that they are happy and healthy. Since 2021 we have seen an overall improvement in our sickness absence rates, and we continue to monitor mental health related sickness to ensure we have the right support in place, at the right time.
“Many staff now feel more comfortable to recognise when they need time to protect their mental health, and the Trust has a wide range of services in place to support staff to stay well.
“This includes access to occupational health and wellbeing support and advice, staff counselling, mental health first responders, financial wellbeing support and flexible working options. External support is also available with a national 24/7 confidential text support service. We also help staff to come back to work when they are ready through phased returns and alternative working options.”
Meanwhile, according to a recent poll conducted by NHS Charities, three out of four NHS staff have experienced poor mental health in the past year, suggesting that issues around pay and workload have resulted in a number of mental challenges.
In a statement about its poll NHS Charities Together, said: “Far from being a seasonal issue, ‘winter pressures’ are felt by NHS staff all year round. A huge 96 per cent of NHS staff surveyed said they believed that pressure on NHS services is growing.
“Faced with the responsibilities of saving lives, high workload, long and unsociable hours and exposure to traumatic events, it’s no surprise that many NHS staff are struggling with their mental health.
“These findings confirm how vital it is to prioritise mental well-being of the NHS workforce so that they can continue to deliver the best care for their patients.”
Legal Expert also obtained the figures on the specific mental health reasons that staff members gave for their absence.
Based on figures gathered from NHS Trusts across the country, the most common mental health issues that NHS staff face are anxiety, depression and stress.
Keeping in line with the general increase in mental health absences across the country, these specific issues have been reported more and more by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust staff members.
Pressures inside the NHS have become so severe that the equivalent of a week off work was taken by every single one of the health service’s 350k nurses last year due to stress, anxiety and depression, analysis of new NHS England data shows.
Due to ongoing staffing problems, many workers are pushed beyond their mental and physical limits due to long, intensive hours.
A survey conducted by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) revealed that pay is the biggest source of dissatisfaction among nurses. 88% of respondents indicated that a pay rise would significantly improve their situation.
Other factors, including more flexible working hours, increased holidays, and shorter shifts, would also make a difference in a nurse’s quality of life.
Enhancing pay, reducing workloads, and providing better mental health support can help create a more sustainable and supportive environment for nurses, ensuring they can continue to deliver high-quality care without compromising their well-being.
Legal Expert offers free advice and support to anyone who has suffered problems at work relating to mental health.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and claim online form, which you can access on their website. https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/
