Publication, Part of NHS Sickness Absence Rates

NHS Sickness Absence Rates, March 2025

Official statistics

Publication Date:: 24 Jul 2025
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 Mar 2025

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.

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Key Facts

NHS Absence rates in March 2025

The overall sickness absence rate for England was 4.9%. This has fallen since February 2025 (5.3%) but is slightly higher than March 2024 (4.7%).

Regional and organisational type variation

The North West region reported the highest sickness absence rate in March 2025 at 5.7%, falling since February 2025 (6.1%).

The South East of England reported the lowest sickness absence rate in March 2025 at 4.3%, falling since February 2025 (4.7%).

Ambulance Trusts had the highest sickness absence rate at 6.4% in March 2025, decreasing since February 2025 (6.8%). Commissioning Support Units had the lowest sickness absence rate at 3.1%, falling since February 2025 (3.7%).

Staff group differences

Support to ambulance staff reported the highest sickness absence rate in March 2025 at 7.6%, decreasing slightly since February 2025 (8.0%).

HCHS doctors reported the lowest sickness absence rate in March 2025 at 2.0%.

Reason for sickness absence

Anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illnesses was the most reported reason for sickness, accounting for over 610,500 full time equivalent days lost and 27.5% of all sickness absence in March 2025. This has increased since February 2025 (26.4%).