Mental illness most common reason for NHS staff sickness absence at Welsh health board last year
Stress and mental illness was the most common reason for NHS staff sickness absence at a Welsh health board last year, figures reveal.
More than 30% of all staff sickness absence at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVHB) in 2024 were due to mental illness, statistics obtained by the Welsh Conservatives show.
It led to 109,271 FTE (Full-time Equivalent) days lost at CAVHB alone, amid "relentless workloads" faced by staff, according to a health union boss.
Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Executive Director, said: “The sickness levels come as no surprise.
"We already know that nursing staff in Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board – and across Wales – are under immense pressure, working in understaffed teams, facing relentless workloads, and struggling with burnout.
"High sickness absence rates are a symptom of a system that is failing to support its workforce. Nursing staff are being forced to provide care in hospital corridors due to bed shortages and staffing issues, a situation that adds to their stress and exhaustion.
"Without urgent investment in safe staffing levels and better working conditions, these pressures will continue to take a toll on the health and wellbeing of nursing staff, ultimately impacting the care of patients in Wales”.
It comes as Wales’ health secretary announced escalated intervention measures at CAVHB amid concerns about a growing financial deficit.
Jeremy Miles announced on March 11 that the health board will move to level four for finance, strategy and planning on the five-point scale, with special measures the highest at level five.
Across Wales, Freedom of Information figures show more than 19,000 occurrences of sickness absence were categorised under 'anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illnesses'.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS, called the absence levels "a symptom of the endemic failure of Labour in Wales to manage the Welsh NHS properly."
He added: "It’s clear that these figures reflect low morale throughout our health service and across Wales. Healthcare staff in the Welsh NHS do an incredible job, but pressure is piled on them when hospitals remain understaffed.
"The Welsh Labour Government has failed to put forward a substantial recruitment and retention plan to address the NHS workforce crisis. The Welsh Conservatives would make this a top priority, to get more doctors and nurses into our hospitals than ever before as opposed to Labour’s plan to create more politicians.”
The number of occurrences of staff absences due to mental ill health in 2024:
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - 3,118 (third highest reason)
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board - 3,195 (third highest reason)
Cardiff & Vale University Health Board - 3,599 occurrences (highest reason)
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board - 2,416 (third highest reason)
Hywel Dda University Health Board - 2,705 (third highest reason)
Powys Teaching Health Board - 321 (third highest reason)
Swansea Bay University Health Board - 3,676 (third highest reason)
The Welsh Government says: “Our health and care workforce work hard to provide services and we thank them for their continued efforts.
“NHS Wales employers are expected to put the health and wellbeing needs of the NHS workforce at the core of how they plan services.
“We have invested £1.5 million per year in the Canopi service to provide free, confidential and flexible mental health support to all health and care staff. We continue to work with employers and trade unions to identify national initiatives to complement local services, such as occupational health and psychological wellbeing services.”
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