I started highlighting the increasing sickness absence rates of NHS staff years ago.
First they responded that it was going down again after the pandemic.
I responded that the pandemic wasn't over and that it was about to rise again.
They said no it wasn't.
Then it rose.
Then they said that it was mostly due to anxiety.
I said, no, that category of reason for absence isn't anxiety, it's psychiatric illness.
They said, well it's because they are treated so badly.
I said the other reasons for absence are rising faster.
They said no they're not.
So I listed them.
They said it's because staff are worn out from the pandemic and healthcare stresses.
So I showed that it's affecting the new staff who weren't even working until 2025, right from the first day they start work.
Then they said it was because of an aging workforce.
So again I showed them that it's affecting the youngest staff worst.
So they said it was because young people are lazy now.
So I showed that death rates were up to the same degree as sickness absence rates. Are people so lazy they're dying?
And they said that it's because we have more healthcare workers from other countries now.
So I showed that the groups of workers that are predominantly from the UK have the highest increases in sickness absence rates.
So now they're admitting that there are higher sickness absence rates but again blaming them on laziness and lack of dedication, and they're telling staff that people who take too much sick leave won't be give jobs.
And I said well, isn't that just going to make them sicker and affect the vulnerable patients even more?
And they haven't replied yet.