Derriford Hospital issues statement as mental health absence figures reach 6,228

Hospital chiefs have recognised they have a "high number of staff absences" related to mental health, but claim the introduction last year of a dedicated Wellbeing Team aimed to tackled the issue.

A Freedom on Information request by Legal Expert found that University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust had seen 6,228 staff members take absence due to mental health reasons since 2021, with figures rising in the past year.

It's long been recognised, even before the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, that NHS staff were bearing the brunt of endless battles with the Governments over pay, dilapidated working environments, hostile patients and funding cuts to services. Many spoke of being left exhausted from working long hours, feeling undervalued at being paid minimum wage despite working in high pressure environments, and burning out from tackling the pandemic.

In 2021 the Royal College of Psychiatrists told the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee that a lack of staff was one of the biggest causes of workforce burnout in mental health services. This followed the same committee hearing from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) who explained that even prior to the onset of the pandemic there were 50,000 nursing vacancies in the UK.

The Freedom on Information request found that staff members at the Trust have had to take at least one day off work due to a mental health issue in the past three years.

Earlier this year, it was announced that government funding ended for a national network of mental health and wellbeing hubs that were established in 2020-21 to support NHS frontline workers during the pandemic. These hubs served as a vital lifeline for a workforce in crisis, and closures across the support network have led to the number of staff absences due to mental health reasons rising year on year.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust provide services and healthcare for patients at a number of sites, including Derriford Hospital, Mount Gould Hospital, South Hams Community Hospital and Tavistock Hospital.

In 2021/22, the number of staff at the trust who took a day off for mental health reasons stood at 2,076. A year later, this number dropped to 2,004, which is the lowest number of staff absent over the three-year period. The past year has seen a large increase in staff absences due to mental health issues, standing at 2,148.

According to a recent poll conducted by NHS Charities, three out of four NHS staff have experienced poor mental health in the past year, suggesting that issues around pay and workload have resulted in a number of mental challenges.

In a statement about its poll NHS Charities Together, said: "Far from being a seasonal issue, 'winter pressures' are felt by NHS staff all year round. A huge 96 per cent of NHS staff surveyed said they believed that pressure on NHS services is growing.

"Faced with the responsibilities of saving lives, high workload, long and unsociable hours and exposure to traumatic events, it’s no surprise that many NHS staff are struggling with their mental health.

"Pressures inside the NHS have become so severe that the equivalent of a week off work was taken by every single one of the health service’s 350,000 nurses last year due to stress, anxiety and depression, analysis of new NHS England data shows.

"Due to ongoing staffing problems, many workers are pushed beyond their mental and physical limits due to long, intensive hours."

A survey conducted by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) revealed that pay is the biggest source of dissatisfaction among nurses, with 88 percent of respondents indicating that a pay rise would significantly improve their situation. Other factors, including more flexible working hours, increased holidays, and shorter shifts, would also make a difference in a nurse's quality of life.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Plymouth said: "The wellbeing of our staff is one of our top priorities and we are aware that we have a high number of staff absences related to mental health.

"We are continuously looking at making improvements to the support offer available to staff and last year we introduced a dedicated Wellbeing Team, who directly engage with colleagues and seek to support them with mental wellbeing issues that can be either work or home related.

"We currently provide a wide range of mental wellbeing support services for staff, including counselling and therapy, wellbeing rooms, pastoral and spiritual care and other advice and guidance, as well as a 24/7 Employee Assistance Scheme. Staff who need support are actively encouraged to self-refer to our Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department.

"In addition to this and part of our wider People Strategy, we are also reviewing our policies and guidance through the Wellbeing Plan and Mental Health Plan, with the aim to create a working environment where all colleagues’ wellbeing is fully supported."

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