This is a 29% rise from the 2019 rate and higher than during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Mental health problems are the most common cause of absences, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total.
There were also significant increases in absences due to colds, coughs, infections, and respiratory problems, likely linked to the continued circulation of Covid and the return of flu last year.
The Nuffield Trust warns that the NHS is in a "seemingly unsustainable cycle" of increased work and burnout, contributing to staff leaving.
The upcoming government and NHS England's workforce plan is expected to address this issue.
LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Record-Breaking NHS Staff Sickness Rate in England: 5.6%, Equivalent to 75,000 Lost to Illness in 2022
The NHS staff sickness rate in England has reached a record high of 5.6%, resulting in the equivalent of nearly 75,000 staff being lost to illness in 2022.
29 June 2023 · 05:48 UTC
