WARRINGTON Hospital has made a ‘significant investment’ to help staff destress from what has been a challenging pandemic period.

However, staff absence at Warrington and Halton hospitals reached its highest point since April 2020 in December 2021, recently published figures show.

NHS Digital figures show 7.51 per cent of the available full-time equivalent working days were classified as absent at the trust – the highest since the period after the pandemic first hit England.

Further figures, also from NHS Digital, show that 7.79 per cent of nurses and health visitors, 1.99 per cent of doctors and 14.84 per cent of midwives were absent.

Across England, NHS staff absences soared to 6.17 per cent, the second-highest mark since records began in 2009, and only marginally behind April 2020 (6.2 per cent).

Anxiety, stress, depression and other mental health reasons were the primary factor, accounting for 23.7 per cent of all staff absences.

They were followed by coughs and colds at 12.7 per cent and infectious diseases at 9.5 per cent.

At Warrington and Halton hospitals, 1,925.87 full-time equivalent days were lost due to Covid-19, separate NHS Digital figures show.

Michelle Cloney, chief people officer at the trust, explained that the organisation prides itself on enabling staff to be open and honest about their mental health.

She said: “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and sustained pressure on hospital services, because of unprecedented demand, is having an impact on the health and wellbeing of our workforce after a tiring and pressured two years.

“There has been significant investment into onsite mental wellbeing services, from increasing our occupational health provision for the workforce and securing investment from Sir Captain Tom Moore’s foundation to implement the wellbeing sanctuary for staff.

“Two additional staff counsellors have also been employed to support the workforce and deliver a therapeutic service to support with conditions such as anxiety and depression.

“Staff have access to a wealth of advice, information, support and guidance on a range of topics that may affect them, from bereavement to relationship breakdown or financial worries.

“This information is supported by a range of campaigns throughout the year to support our workforce on a monthly basis.”

She added that the trust works ‘incredibly hard’ to support people to remain healthy and well in work, developing personalised plans to support staff back into the workplace.

The Royal College of Nursing said overstretched workers are at breaking point, while the British Medical Association has called on the Government to focus on the ‘protection and wellbeing’ of NHS staff.

Dr David Wrigley, council deputy chair at the BMA, said that the NHS faces an unprecedented staffing crisis without Government action.

“We need a focus on the protection and wellbeing of NHS workers, with a long-term national workforce strategy to grow the workforce and retain the experienced staff we have,” he commented.

The Department for Health and Social Care said it is supporting the health and wellbeing of NHS staff by providing targeted psychological support and treatment, occupational health sessions and investment in ‘wellbeing conversations’.