Updated guidelines have been released for managing sickness absence in the NHS.
The 2009 Boorman Review estimated that absences could be slashed by a third, saving £555 million per year, if interventions to prevent and manage sickness were implemented properly.
A document produced by the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group (HSWPG) has been designed to guide organisations on how they can effectively manage sickness, and provide best practice guidance.
HSWPG is a national sub-group of the NHS Staff Council.
The overall purpose of the group is to raise standards of workplace health, safety and wellbeing in healthcare organisations and to promote a safer working environment for all health care staff.
An NHS Employers document stated: “Staff absence is a challenge for managers who are tasked with providing services within increasingly stretched resources. Equally, those staff remaining at work are placed under greater pressure having to cover for absent colleagues and do more with less staff.
“These updated guidelines outline the key principles that NHS organisations should follow to prevent and manage sickness absence. “
The guidelines on staff sickness are available to view on the NHS Employers website.
