Shock increases of up to 43% in stress related illness among NHS staff across Wales over the last three years are revealed today by Plaid Cymru.
The biggest rise was in the troubled Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board where the number of stress absences rose from 1,074 in 2011-12 to 1,538 in 2013-14, according to information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
There was also significant rises in Aneurin Bevan, Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff & Vale and Hywel Dda but small falls in Cwm Taf and Powys.
There was a 48% increase in stress sickness among nurses and midwives working for ABMU HB – up from 419 to 620. In all, but one board stress sickness among nurses was higher than the average among staff.
Cardiff & the Vale University Health Board revealed that 108 staff left its employment over the three years for health reasons while Cwm Taf University Health Board said that the longest period of absence during 2013-14 because of stress was 325 days.
Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Health Minister, said: “It is worrying to discover rises of between 14.6% and 43% in stress sickness absences in five of our health boards and significant absence figures among nursing staff. It indicates the pressure employees of the NHS are under.
“I’m particularly concerned at the level of stress related illness in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, where significant failings in patient care have been identified over the last few years.
“The majority of nurses do a fantastic job but are facing increasing pressures and all too often face being blamed for problems that are down to management. We need to reduce pressures on nurses through cutting bureaucracy and introducing a paperless NHS. There is also need nurses to have a genuine career progression.”
Tina Donnelly, Director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales, said that she was not surprised by the figures.
Tina Donnelly said: “These statistics reflect what we are hearing from members on the frontline. It is quite clear that the NHS in Wales is under immense pressure. Given that nurses make up the biggest number of front line staff, these figures are extremely disturbing and not surprising given the pressure nurses seem to be receiving at all levels in Wales, in the workplace and from the media.”
