Hartlepool hospital trust sickness rate hit record high during first month of lockdown

NHS Digital data shows that in April, the first full month of lockdown, the overall staff sickness and absence rate at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust was 6.9% – the highest since comparable records began in 2013.

It means 9,411 full-time equivalent days of work across all staff groups in the trust were lost, from a total of 136,345 in April.

The latest statistics reveal 2.3million full-time working days were lost due to sickness across the NHS in April – the most in more than a decade.

The rate across the North East and Yorkshire was 5.9% in April – the second lowest of NHS England's seven regions. London had the highest rate, while the South West saw the lowest.

The national sickness rate was 6.2% – the highest for any month on record.

Alan Sheppard, Chief People Officer at the Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of our staff for the dedication and commitment they have shown, in the face of one of the most challenging situations they will ever have in their careers in the NHS.

“This is a situation which has not only tested us all professionally, but on a personal level too – whether we have had health issues ourselves, relatives affected or have been impacted by any of the other unique set of challenges this virus has thrown our way.

“Our health and wellbeing, workforce and psychology teams have carried out a large amount of work to offer this support. Initiatives have included a dedicated support helpline and relaxation hubs – this has involved the creation of several breakout areas as well as a luxury bus to provide that space staff needed.

“Over the last few months our staff have come together and adapted and improved as we always knew they would - all for the benefit of our patients.

"The improvements we have made and the lessons we have learned over the last few months I feel will make us more prepared than ever before, should we face any second wave.”

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