The trust, which runs Whipps Cross Hospital, has seen a total of 3,729 staff absences due to mental health reasons in the past three years
Main image credit: Wicki58 via Canva, Inset: Whipps Cross Hospital
More than 3,500 staff at Barts Health NHS Trust have had to take absences due to mental health problems since 2021.
Figures obtained by Legal Expert found that the trust has seen a total of 3,729 staff absences due to mental health reasons since 2021, with figures rising in the past year.
In 2021/22 there were 1,204 staff absent due to mental health, with 1,176 in 2022/23, rising to 1,349 in 2023/24.
The trust operates Whipps Cross Hospital among three other major hospital sites in London, serving 2.5 million people in total.
According to a recent poll conducted by NHS Charities, three out of four NHS staff have experienced poor mental health in the past year, suggesting that issues around pay and workload have resulted in a number of mental challenges.
In a statement about its poll NHS Charities Together, said: “Far from being a seasonal issue, ‘winter pressures’ are felt by NHS staff all year round. A huge 96% of NHS staff surveyed said they believed that pressure on NHS services is growing.
“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.”
A spokesperson for Barts said: “The wellbeing of our staff is a top priority so they can continue to care for our patients, despite the pressures many of them face on a daily basis.
“We have invested in a wide range of welfare measures to help, including a psychological support service, wellbeing hubs and rest rooms in each hospital.”
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