NHS Sickness Absence Rates, February 2024

NHS Sickness Absence statistics are compiled from data recorded on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system as part of the day to day activities in running NHS organisations. They are published monthly and provide details by staff group, type of organisation, and sickness absence reason.

The NHS workforce is extremely diverse in terms of occupations and skills compared with many other public sector employers. For instance, NHS work is often physically and psychologically demanding which increases the risk of illness and injury. The NHS is also one of few organisations that operate 24 hour services, for 365 days a year.

We work closely with NHS trusts to improve the quality, completeness and coverage of the data submitted, but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the providing organisations.

This data quality statement relates to the current NHS Sickness Absence Rates series. Any data quality issues specific to a particular release will be detailed in that publication.

Data were first published in 2014, with the time series starting from 2009 when ESR data first became available. The full list of NHS Sickness Absence Rates in this series can be accessed via the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-sickness-absence-rates

Data Source

The data source for Sickness Absence rates is the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. ESR is a payroll and human resources system which, since April 2008, contains staff records for all NHS employed staff with the exceptions of GPs. ESR replaced over 30 separate HR and payroll systems which were previously in use.

Recent responses to requests for additional analysis

Every month NHS England produces a range of additional work for customers that may be of interest to other users of NHS workforce statistics. This work is available on the Supplementary information webpage which is continually updated.

Revisions and Issues 

As expected with provisional statistics, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. Users are advised to always check our website for and use the latest published tables for their analyses.

February 2022 revision

Data for the HCHS doctors grades of Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor have been revised for each month back to April 2021. This follows the introduction of two new specialty doctor and specialist grades in April 2021. In NHS England publications both of the new grades were included within the Specialty Doctor category. However, those with the specialist grade are more appropriately included in the Associate Specialist category. Data back to April 2021 have been revised accordingly and future publications will reflect this approach.

November 2023 revision

Following changes to public health in 2021, Public Health England (X25) was replaced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (X36). The UKHSA has been included in NHS Staff Absence statistics since October 2021. However, as UKHSA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, it has now been removed from these statistics. Data back to October 2021 have been revised and users are encouraged to use the latest published data.

Feedback

NHS England welcomes feedback on any aspect of the Sickness Absences releases. This can be sent to us via email at [email protected], quoting “NHS Sickness Absence statistics feedback” in the subject line.

Users and Uses 

This is important data as it is useful for NHS organisations as a tool for understanding NHS staff health and well-being in light of the Boorman Review (and independent review of the health and wellbeing of NHS staff in November 2008), and identifying appropriate benchmarks for sickness absence within their own organisations and staff groups. NHS organisations are able to access more detailed reports about sickness absence within their own organisations. As recommended in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)’s response to the Boorman Review, organisations should make full use of the ESR's sickness absence reporting and monitoring functions to understand the health and well-being of their workforce. NHS stakeholders such as DHSC use this data - alongside NHS staff survey data - to evaluate changes in staff sickness absence and staff health and well-being.