Summary

This statistical bulletin relates to sickness absence rates for staff at NHS organisations on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) between April and June 2009. This is the first publication of sickness absence statistics using data taken form the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). As such, these figures are presented as an experimental series. The NHS IC intends to publish these figures quarterly in the future.

Key facts

• The average sickness absence rate for the NHS in England was 4.1 per cent.
• The North East SHA area had the highest average sickness absence rate with its organisations averaging 4.6 per cent. The London SHA area had the lowest average at 3.4 per cent.
• Healthcare assistants and other support staff were the staff group with the highest average sickness absence rate with an average of 6.2 per cent. The medical and dental staff group had the lowest average at 1.1 per cent.
• Amongst types of organisation, ambulance trusts had the highest average sickness absence rate with an average of 5.2 per cent. Strategic health authorities had the lowest average with a rate of 2.1 per cent.