One in 10 hospital nurses absent due to coronavirus

One in 10 nurses working in acute hospitals are off work due to coronavirus, according to internal NHS figures seen by HSJ.

Internal NHS figures from the COVID-19 national operational dashboard state that, on Saturday, English acute trusts reported that 41,038 nurses and midwives were absent . 28,063 (68%) were COVID-19 related. The total nursing and midwifery headcount in acute trusts is about 280,000 — meaning roughly 10% are off on covid-related absence.

There are ongoing complaints from staff about their access to COVID-19 tests — which, it is hoped, will hope reduce the absence rates from suspected cases — while national officials say these are now being made available.

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Source: HSJ, 14 April 2020