Legal Expert figures show Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust has logged nearly 2,000 staff absences for mental health issues since 2021

There have been almost 2,000 staff absences for mental health issues at a hospital trust since 2021.

Figures obtained by Legal Expert found that Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has seen 1,933 staff absences due to mental health reasons since 2021, with figures rising in the past year.

In 2021/22, the number of staff at the Sherwood Forest trust who took a day off for mental health reasons stood at 602.

A year later, this number rose to 621 — and the past year has seen another increase, with staff absences due to mental health issues standing at 710.

Rob Simcox, director of people at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “We recognise the impact that working under intense pressure for prolonged periods has on our colleagues.

“We have an extensive programme of physical and mental health and wellbeing support to ensure that colleagues feel properly supported and can deliver the best possible care for patients.”

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.

The hospital’s director added: “Despite the many national challenges across the NHS, it is great that colleagues’ overall experience of working at SFH ranks among the very best in the country.

“While there is always more we can do to support our colleagues, we are very proud that Sherwood Forest Hospitals is the best acute trust to work for in the Midlands for the sixth year in a row.

“According to results of a national staff survey, 74.45% of our colleagues recommend the Trust as a place to work, being third in the country, in the 2023 NHS National Staff Survey.”

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% 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 revealed that pay is the biggest source of dissatisfaction among nurses.

88% of respondents indicated 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.

Legal Expert offers free advice and support to anyone who has suffered problems at work relating to mental health.