Concern as 74,000 nurses in Scotland miss work because of psychological sickness
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nurse mentioned she wished to be in a automotive crash so she wouldn’t should go to work.
It comes as figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives present greater than 74,000 NHS workers throughout the nation have missed work with psychological sickness within the final 5 years.
Some 74,013 employees have taken time without work work because of anxiousness, stress, despair or different psychological sicknesses since 2018, responses to requests by the events from all of Scotland’s 14 well being boards confirmed.
The figures symbolize round 46% of the NHS’s 160,000 sturdy workforce in Scotland.
One member of workers in NHS Borders labored a 19.5 hour shift, figures additionally confirmed.
Shadow well being secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane described the findings as “deeply concerning” because of a scarcity of help and workforce planning by the Scottish Government.
During a latest roundtable occasion with NHS nurses, one mentioned she hoped to be in a automotive accident to keep away from work and one other mentioned she was now not happy with the work she did.
More than 1.5 million working days have been misplaced because of the absences, with figures prone to be far increased as not all the well being boards supplied the data requested.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Scotland’s largest well being board – solely revealed absences for the final three years quite than the final 5.
The board had the best tally of Scotland’s 14 well being boards.
Dr Gulhane, who’s a GP, known as the findings a “wake up call” for brand spanking new Health Secretary Michael Matheson.
He mentioned: “My dedicated colleagues on the frontline are beyond breaking point and for many this has clearly taken an awful toll on their mental health.
“These findings fully expose how overwhelmed so many of them have become on the SNP’s watch due to the shortage of frontline staff which is the product of dire workforce planning by successive health secretaries.
“But, sadly, these shocking figures chime with what I heard at a roundtable of nurses that I participated in recently.
“Among the awful testimonies, it was utterly heart-breaking to hear one dedicated nurse insist she hoped she would be involved in a car crash to avoid her work.
“We should never have reached this point. These figures will be even worse given a lot of health boards – including the country’s largest – didn’t provide all the information requested.
“The new SNP health secretary – Michael Matheson – has to use these figures as an urgent wake-up call. He should start by ripping up Humza Yousaf’s NHS Recovery plan which has totally failed to remobilise our NHS.
“He should follow the example of the Scottish Conservatives who have outlined a clear vision for the future of the NHS as a modern, efficient and local service to support suffering patients and dedicated staff.”
My devoted colleagues on the frontline are past breaking level and for a lot of this has clearly taken an terrible toll on their psychological well being
A Scottish Government spokesperson mentioned: “We are immensely grateful for the incredible efforts of all of our NHS and Social Care staff as we continue to recover from the pandemic.
“Our health care system continues to be under substantial pressure and we are working with health boards to provide long-term sustainable support.
“The nursing and midwifery taskforce, which met for the first time last week, will also look to explore and develop proposals on a range of initiatives, including staff wellbeing.”