SALISBURY District Hospital has seen a small rise in the number of staff taking days off work due to their mental health since 2021, new research has found.

In 2023/24, a total of 522 staff members working at the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust had at least one day off work because of their mental health – around 12 per cent of the workforce.

In comparison, 423 and then 430 workers took absence for that reason in 2021/22 and 2022/23, which was around 11 per cent of staff.

The figures were obtained by Legal Expert via Freedom of Information requests.

In response to the data, the Salisbury trust praised the “incredible resilience” of staff who faced the pandemic and recovery period and outlined its available support services, which includes counselling, a chaplaincy service and specialist psychology.

Legal Expert's research follows an end to government funding for a national network of mental and wellbeing hubs that were founded in 2020/21 to support NHS workers during the pandemic – a service Legal Expert says “served as a vital lifeline for a workforce in crisis”.

The figures were obtained via FOI requests (Image: Legal Expert) In April, a poll of more than 1,000 NHS staff by NHS Charities Together found that three-quarters had experienced poor mental health in the previous year.

Separate research by The Royal College of Nursing, also published in April, found that the average nurse took a week off work due to stress-related illness in 2023.

A spokesperson for NHS Charities Together said: “Far from being a seasonal issue, ‘winter pressures’ are felt by NHS staff all year round.

“Faced with the responsibilities of saving lives, high workload, long and unsociable hours and exposure to traumatic events, it’s no surprise that many NHS staff are struggling with their mental health. 

“These findings confirm how vital it is to prioritise mental well-being of the NHS workforce so that they can continue to deliver the best care for their patients.”

Salisbury hospital has outlined its commitment to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff (Image: Spencer Mulholland) A spokesperson for the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said: “Salisbury hospital is committed to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of all our staff.

“Supporting our staff with their mental health is essential for fostering a productive, engaged workforce that can deliver outstanding care to our patients.

“At the hospital we have a range of services for staff including mental health first aiders, staff counselling, a chaplaincy service and access to specialist psychology support.

“In addition, we offer flexible working whenever possible to enable staff to balance work and home life.

“While immensely rewarding, working in the NHS is always demanding. 

“Over the past few years our staff have shown incredible resilience, never flinching in the face of pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic or during the very difficult recovery period. 

“Today the workforce continues to deliver compassionate care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”