Stress blamed for rise in NHS sick days
The new figures come from Scottish Labour.
It's claimed stress is the main reason behind thousands of sick days at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
New research from Scottish Labour shows an increase in the number of staff not able to work their shift in last three years.
2015/16 - 99,222 days lost
2016/17 - 119,500 days lost
2017/18 - 123,507**** days lost
TOTAL DAYS LOST = 342,229
For NHS Lanarkshire the equivalent figure for 2017/18 was 58,857.
The Scotland wide figure for the last year alone exceeds 400,000.
Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Monica Lennon MSP, said, “Stress-related absences in our NHS have rocketed in recent years, causing the equivalent of more than one million work days to be lost. 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.
"The SNP has created a staffing crisis in our health service, with more than 3,000 nursing and midwifery posts lying unfilled. A crisis worsened by Nicola Sturgeon’s decision to cut the number of training posts whilst she was Health Secretary.
“Scottish Labour has listened to what people working in our health service say has to change and our workforce commission is focused on making the NHS fit for the future.
"The SNP has created stress and anxiety for patients and staff but it was Labour who created the NHS and we will not accept this complacency from a tired and timid government. Hardworking and dedicated NHS staff deserve better than this."
NHS Great Glasgow and Clyde says it's working to support its staff and is training all managers in how to deal with workplace stress.