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| Plymouth doctors' stress sick days rise 430% in five years | Plymouth doctors' stress sick days rise 430% in five years |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Days lost to stress-related sickness by doctors at a hospital trust have increased by more than 430% in five years, a BBC investigation has found. | Days lost to stress-related sickness by doctors at a hospital trust have increased by more than 430% in five years, a BBC investigation has found. |
| In 2010-2011, 143 days were lost at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust compared to 763 in 2014-2015. | In 2010-2011, 143 days were lost at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust compared to 763 in 2014-2015. |
| The trust said the figures were "concerning" and it was working to cut sickness. | The trust said the figures were "concerning" and it was working to cut sickness. |
| Unison said doctors were emigrating, retiring early or moving to the private sector due to long hours and stress. | Unison said doctors were emigrating, retiring early or moving to the private sector due to long hours and stress. |
| The BBC obtained the figures using Freedom of Information requests. | The BBC obtained the figures using Freedom of Information requests. |
| Suzy Franklin, branch secretary of Unison at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, said: "It's a huge worry, it's a massive increase and the morale is pretty low. | Suzy Franklin, branch secretary of Unison at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, said: "It's a huge worry, it's a massive increase and the morale is pretty low. |
| "Pressures on staff are unbelievable because of underfunding in the trust [because] the government is underfunding us." | "Pressures on staff are unbelievable because of underfunding in the trust [because] the government is underfunding us." |
| Prof Roger Jones, from the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, said: "In 2014, 60% of the doctors [across the country] we helped were suffering from mental health and addiction problems and one of the causes we hear often is the additional stress they are facing in the workplace." | Prof Roger Jones, from the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, said: "In 2014, 60% of the doctors [across the country] we helped were suffering from mental health and addiction problems and one of the causes we hear often is the additional stress they are facing in the workplace." |
| He said workload, bureaucracy and shortage of doctors had all contributed towards them being stressed. | He said workload, bureaucracy and shortage of doctors had all contributed towards them being stressed. |
| "Doctors are traditionally not good at seeking help. It's important medical students are given guidance to recognise stress and how to deal with it." | "Doctors are traditionally not good at seeking help. It's important medical students are given guidance to recognise stress and how to deal with it." |
| Overall, stress-related illnesses for clinical staff at the trust in Plymouth increased by 70% from 6,900 days in 2010-2011 to almost 11,800 days in 2014-2015. | Overall, stress-related illnesses for clinical staff at the trust in Plymouth increased by 70% from 6,900 days in 2010-2011 to almost 11,800 days in 2014-2015. |
| Dr Phil Hughes, medical director for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Derriford Hospital, said: "We are conscious that stress is a problem throughout the NHS and pressure on staff is increasing steadily as demand for services rise. | Dr Phil Hughes, medical director for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Derriford Hospital, said: "We are conscious that stress is a problem throughout the NHS and pressure on staff is increasing steadily as demand for services rise. |
| "Stress-related illnesses often result in long periods of absence so, although the trend is concerning for what it tells us about the pressures on our staff, it may not represent very large numbers of people off work." | "Stress-related illnesses often result in long periods of absence so, although the trend is concerning for what it tells us about the pressures on our staff, it may not represent very large numbers of people off work." |
| Stress-related sickness at other trusts: | Stress-related sickness at other trusts: |
| 'New system' | 'New system' |
| Jo Holmes, from the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said a new management system had resulted in an "increased level of reporting of sickness absence and recording of the actual reasons". | Jo Holmes, from the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said a new management system had resulted in an "increased level of reporting of sickness absence and recording of the actual reasons". |
| "If a staff member is off work with stress, we use the Health and Safety Executive stress audit to help identify the cause and plan for how this could be addressed." | "If a staff member is off work with stress, we use the Health and Safety Executive stress audit to help identify the cause and plan for how this could be addressed." |
| The South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said a new system recording the reason for sickness was introduced two years ago, which meant the figures for the last five years could not be compared. | |
| The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust said it had changed the way it recorded sickness absence during the period so the figures could not be compared. | The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust said it had changed the way it recorded sickness absence during the period so the figures could not be compared. |