Rise in Birmingham NHS staff absences linked to stress

The number of Birmingham NHS staff taking time off with stress has been soaring during the pandemic. The trust running Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands hospitals has seen the amount of staff absent from work due to stress, anxiety and depression rise by approximately 50% since the pandemic got underway. Much of this stress has been linked to the harrowing experiences staff have undergone whilst on the wards. 

A substantial increase in absences 

Bosses at the trust say they have been introducing support measures to help employees cope. In September, 646 staff took time off work due to stress, depression and anxiety. In February 2020, just 439 staff working for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (UHB) were absent from work for these reasons. The amount of staff away from work in September was more than any other point during the pandemic. 2,800 Covid-related deaths have occurred at hospitals ran by the trust. 

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “We are aware that staff absences due to stress, anxiety and depression have increased, in particular during the last 12 to 18 months, largely due to the impact of the pandemic”. She said the trust had been working to introduce a range of bespoke services to help “specific groups of staff”. According to the spokeswoman, these are focused on wellbeing and early intervention. She says the trust “wholeheartedly” thanks staff for their efforts. 

Do you need to speak to a counsellor in Birmingham?

If you have been forced to take time off work due to anxiety, depression or stress recently, a counsellor in Birmingham help. At Click Counsellor, we can direct you to highly experienced Birmingham counsellors who have worked in the field for several years. Our counsellors in Birmingham can introduce you to various coping strategies and techniques that can help you source more joy from your day-to-day life. They will never judge you or tell you what to do, but they will use their experience and expertise to get you feeling better so you feel emotionally and psychologically prepared to return to work, if you wish to do so. 

How to use Click Counsellor 

The service is very simple to use. Just head to our website and complete the short form so you can let us know what is troubling you, the kind of counselling you require and how you wish to receive your treatment. We can help you access online counselling, telephone counselling and face-to-face counselling. Our therapists specialise in addiction counselling, relationship counselling, bereavement counselling and various other forms of psychological support. There is no need to go it alone. Simply letting your problems worsen without asking for help can be very dangerous. Our Birmingham counsellors are here for you and ready to provide the treatment you need to start sourcing more joy from your life. Why wait any longer to use our service? Talk to an accredited, endorsed counsellor in Birmingham today if you are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression. 

Craig Upton
 

Craig Upton supports UK businesses by increasing sales growth using various revenue streams online. Creating strategic partnerships and keen focus to detail, Craig equips websites with the right tools to increase traffic. Craig is also the CEO of iCONQUER, a UK based SEO agency and has been working in the digital marketing arena for over a decade. A trusted SEO consultant and trainer, Craig has worked with British brands such as FT.com, DJKit, UK Property Finance, Serimax, Bridging Finance and has also supported UK doctors, solicitors, builders, jewellers, to mention a few, to gain more exposure online. Craig has gained a wealth of knowledge within the digital marketing space and is committed to creating new opportunities working with UK companies.