Following the release of all sickness absence rates for 2017, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has spoken of her concern about the level seen by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, and has called on the Welsh Government to take helpful measures.

Janet said:

“Our National Health Service provides a key provision we are all dependent on during ill-health, so it is extremely concerning to see an increase in the sickness rate of the people delivering the care.

“Particularly worrying is the sickness rate at the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.  Not only did this reach 7.4% during the last quarter of 2017, but the Trust has seen the highest sickness absence of all NHS organisations since data started to be collected in 2008.

“With the Ambulance Service now having experienced a decade of the highest sickness rate in Wales, this really should be regarded as a siren for support.

“I am therefore calling on the Welsh Government to work with the Trust and its staff to identify the cause of the high rate, and implement measures to help its hard working staff”.

Table: Sickness absence rate at Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAS)

ENDS

Written Assembly Question to Vaughan Gething AM, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services:

Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the fact that the Welsh Ambulance Service has had the highest sickness absence of NHS organisations since 2008, and explain whether the Welsh Government will cooperate with the Trust to identify the cause of the high rate and implement helpful measures?