Key facts

The national sickness absence level for 2005 is 4.5 per cent. The rate compares with 4.6 per cent for 2004 and 4.7 per cent for 2003.

The rates of sickness absence vary by trust type; for example, levels are considerably higher in ambulance trusts (6.0 per cent) than in acute trusts (4.4 per cent). The rate for the relatively small number of staff in Strategic Health Authorities is lowest of all at 2.8 per cent.

The variation by trust type is in line with similar variation in the previous 3 years. The biggest change between 2004 and 2005 was an increase in the rate for Strategic Health Authorities from 2.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent. Ambulance Trusts saw the largest decrease in rate falling from 6.2 per cent in 2004 to 6.0 per cent in 2005.

There is some variation in sickness absence rates by Government Office Region, ranging from 5.3 per cent in the north-east to 4.1 per cent in both the south-east and London.

Summary

Survey of sickness absence rates of staff in NHS organisations, which is defined as a percentage of the amount of time lost through absences divided by the time available for directly employed NHS staff. The 2005 survey covers all Primary Care Trusts, other NHS Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities and Special Health Authorities.