Original by Jez Hemming, Daily Post - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-nhs-staff…

Call for investigation into why so many staff were unfit for duty at beginning of this year

North Wales health services saw their worst ever rates of sickness since records began at the beginning of this year.

In total, 1,250 health board and ambulance service workers took days off in January.

The figures meant more than 6% of the Betsi Cadwaladr workforce of around 16,500 was unavailable for duty at some time during that month.

And a considerable 8.6% of staff at the Welsh Ambulance Service were out of action at some stage during the same months.

Yet the figures, high as they are, still see the health board's absence rates coming in below the Welsh average.

However, politicians say there needs to be an investigation into what is causing so many staff to need time off.

The situation improved across the whole quarter although both organisations showed higher sickness absence rates between January and March 2018 compared to the previous year.

For Betsi Cadwaldr the figures revealed the worst rates of staff sickness in January since records began.

On a positive note, health board’s rate of sickness dropped to 4.6% of staff in March - the second lowest for that month since records began.

What the health board says about it ...

A spokeswoman for the health hoard said: “It is a credit to the commitment of our staff, and reflective of the support mechanisms in place that sickness absence levels for the Health Board remain below the Welsh average.

“Our workforce is large and diverse and as such it is important that we continue to work with staff and representatives to identify further and additional steps that we can take to support them in improving their health and wellbeing.”

What the politicians say about it ...

Aberconwy Assembly Member Janet Finch Saunders said: “Whilst none of us can help becoming unwell from time to time, that such a high percentage have been off sick is quite shocking and extremely worrying.

“When considering the sickness absence rate at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board reached 6% last January, there must be an investigation into the cause.

“Certainly, I believe a major contributory factor to our health board’s high rate, and that of the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, is the growing strain on our hard working NHS staff.

“Many of our hospitals are overwhelmed, resulting in long waiting times, and increasing pressure on staff.

“I want to see the Welsh Government take urgent measures to look after them.”

Only the same quarter in 2014 showed higher rates of sickness absence for the Ambulance Service in Wales, with 8.1% off in Q1 2018 and 8.2% off in Q1 2014.

In January The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) was awarded a Gold Corporate Health Standard by the Health Inspectorate for Wales, for its commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of workers.

t was roundly criticised by operational staff for trumpeting the achievement on its Facebook page.

The rate of sickness absence for March dropped to 7.7% of ambulance staff - still the highest in the Welsh NHS.

The Ambulance Service has been approached for comment on the figures.