Thousands of Key Workers Struggling with Long-term Sick Leave due to Government’s Failure to Address Hospital Waiting Lists
Impact on Essential Services
Approximately 12,000 essential workers, including 8,614 nurses, 2,752 police officers, and 568 firefighters, are currently on long-term sick leave due to health reasons, highlighting the detrimental effects of the government’s inaction towards hospital waiting lists.
Worst Affected Areas
Newcastle NHS Trust leads the statistics with 903 nurses on extended sick leave, followed by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust with 480, 432, and 416 nurses respectively. In the police sector, the Metropolitan Police tops the list with 677 officers absent on long-term sick leave, while West Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Police follow with 138 and 134 officers and staff respectively.
Liberal Democrats Uncover Alarming Figures
In November, the Liberal Democrats uncovered these concerning figures through Freedom of Information requests sent to NHS trusts, police forces, and fire services. The party attributes the high sick leave rates to the Conservative Government’s failure to address NHS waiting lists, currently totaling 7.61 million.
Call for Government Action
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman, Sarah Olney, urges the government to allocate sufficient funds to the NHS in the upcoming Budget to alleviate waiting lists, improve patient care, and expedite the return of key workers to their roles. Emphasizing the importance of supporting essential workers, Olney stresses the need for quality care to ensure a healthy workforce and economic growth.
PM Acknowledges Failures
Recent developments reveal Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitting to falling short on his promise to reduce treatment waiting times, acknowledging the backlog’s persistence. Despite marginal reductions, the PM points to challenges such as industrial action and the lasting impact of the pandemic on healthcare services, highlighting the strain faced by NHS workers.
FAQs
Why are so many key workers on long-term sick leave?
The high number of key workers on long-term sick leave is attributed to the government’s failure to address hospital waiting lists, resulting in increased pressure on essential services.
Which NHS trust has the highest number of nurses on extended sick leave?
Newcastle NHS Trust stands out with 903 nurses on long-term sick leave, indicating a significant impact on healthcare services in that region.
What steps are the Liberal Democrats calling for to address the issue?
The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to allocate adequate funding to the NHS to tackle waiting lists, improve patient care, and support the return of key workers to their roles efficiently.
How has the Prime Minister responded to the challenges faced by essential workers?
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has acknowledged shortcomings in meeting treatment waiting time targets and attributed challenges to industrial action and the lingering effects of the pandemic on healthcare services.
What impact has the pandemic had on the healthcare sector according to the Prime Minister?
The Prime Minister highlighted the lasting impact of the pandemic on healthcare services, citing closures and operational disruptions that have contributed to the current challenges faced by the NHS.
