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Publication, Part of

NHS Sickness Absence Rates, January 2024

Official statistics

Publication Date:
30 May 2024
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
NHS Trusts, Hospital Trusts, Ambulance Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, Regions, Clinical Commissioning Groups
Date Range:
30 Apr 2009 to 31 Jan 2024

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NHS Sickness Absence Rates, January 2024

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Author, Copyright and Licensing

These statistics were previously released under an “experimental statistics” banner. Following a review of the data completeness and quality and an assessment against the Statistics Code of Practice they are now designated as official statistics.

30 May 2024 00:00 AM

Page contents

Summary

This report shows monthly sickness absence rates of NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) staff working in NHS Trusts and other core organisations and NHS Support Organisations and Central Bodies. Data is presented by NHS England region, ICS area, organisation, organisation type, staff group and reason for sickness absence.

We welcome feedback on the methodology and tables within this publication. Please email us with your comments and suggestions, clearly stating NHS Sickness Absence as the subject heading, via [email protected] or 0300 303 5678.

Key Facts

NHS Absence rates in January 2024

The overall sickness absence rate for England was 5.5%. This has remained unchanged since December 2023 (5.5%) but has increased slightly since January 2023 (5.3%).

Regional and organisational type variation

The North West region reported the highest sickness absence rate in January 2024 at 6.5%, increasing slightly since December 2023 (6.4%).

The London region reported the lowest sickness absence rate in January 2024 at 4.7%, decreasing slightly since December 2023 (4.9%).

 

Ambulance Trusts had the highest sickness absence rate at 7.4% in January 2024, falling slightly since December 2023 (7.8%). Commissioning Support Units had the lowest sickness absence rate at 3.4%, rising slightly since December 2023 (3.3%).

Staff group differences

Support to ambulance staff reported the highest sickness absence rate in January 2024 at 8.7%, decreasing since December 2023 (9.1%).

 

HCHS Doctors reported the lowest sickness absence rate in January 2024 at 2.0%.

Reason for sickness absence

Anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illnesses was the most reported reason for sickness, accounting for over 587,100 full time equivalent days lost and 24.3% of all sickness absence in January 2024. This has decreased since December 2023 (25.6%).

Last edited: 30 May 2024 9:31 am