September 2019
Media reports that chronic staff shortages have been blamed for the 922,210 days lost to stress, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric illnesses from July 2018 to March this year in England – a quarter of all sick days taken by nurses, according to NHS Digital figures. NHS Employers Chief Executive Danny Mortimer said stress sickness levels were “of concern,” admitting unfilled vacancies placed “additional strain on those trying to fill the gaps”. He added: “One of the key ways to overcome this is to focus on recruitment and retention. We need a commitment from the Government to invest, particularly in areas of greatest shortage.”