Leak shows surge in staff absence as trusts consider letting covid positive clinicians return to wards

NHS staff absences due to covid have risen by a further 11,000 staff in a week in England, figures seen by HSJ reveal. 

At a national level, the number of absences for covid-related reasons - including isolation - rose to about 44,200 on 29 December, up from 32,800 on 22 December.

The 29 December figure has pushed up overall absence for all reasons to 103,727 - 7.8% of the total reported workforce - the leaked data shows.

Numerous senior NHS managers have said their main concern at present is about the level of staff absences, which in some cases is undermining services, with staff having to be redeployed to support others. There is concern about it rising further in the new year.

One trust is looking at whether staff who test positive could opt to work on wards dedicated to covid patients. Louise Ashley, the chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham Trust in Kent, tweeted yesterday that some nurses had asked if they could come into work while positive but asymptomatic.

Ms Ashley later confirmed to HSJ that the trust had assessed the request and “unfortunately” had to refuse it.

The two main reasons for the decision were that staff may have the more dangerous Delta strain and that it be too difficult to keep them isolated from other staff.

She added: ”I am amazed at their commitment to their patients and colleagues – very humbling after the two years they have been through. We are seeing high levels of staff absenteeism but we are hurrying through PCR tests to get staff back to work and are managing safe staffing levels currently.”

 There is also growing concern over NHS staff access to testing, which is required to enable contacts to come to work if they are negative.

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 31 December 2021