A new report from Policy Exchange, NHS, Heal Thyself!, endorsed by a cross-party group of Parliamentarians, finds that sickness absence in the NHS has reached unsustainable levels at rates nearly three times higher than the private sector.

Based on extensive Freedom of Information requests to NHS Trusts and ICBs, analysis of NHS workforce data, and interviews with occupational health and HR professionals, the report concludes that sickness management in the NHS is financially unsustainable, operationally damaging and ultimately unfair to both patients and staff.

The report finds that:

• In 2024 the NHS recorded 5.15% sickness absence. This compares to a UK public sector average of 2.9% and a UK private sector average of 1.8% – meaning sickness absence in the NHS is almost three times that of the private sector.
• Over the ten years to 2024 there has been a significant increase in average sickness absence levels, which have risen by 21% over this period.
• Long-term sickness absence (over 28 days) increased even more – with a 43% increase between 2019 and 2024.
• The number of staff going on long-term sick leave and not returning to work in NHS organisations increased by 42% between 2019 and 2024.
• Just 1% of NHS staff account for 12.5% of all sickness absence and 10% account for 55% of all sickness absence.
• Sickness absence levels were higher amongst some groups of managers and administrators than frontline clinicians.
• More than 8 million days of clinician time are lost each year.
• The annual cost to taxpayers is estimated at £4.6 billion.

The report calls for a modernisation and overhaul of the way the NHS manages sickness absence and makes a number of recommendations including:

• Reducing the period in which staff can receive full pay for sick absence from six months to 28 days.
• Introducing a “day-one” clinical assessment for NHS staff calling-in sick.
• Regular medical certification and work capability reviews for long-term absence.
• Expanded use of alternative duties and remote working to support return-to-work pathways
• More accountability measures for senior managers in poorly performing Trusts that fail to reduce absence rates.

The launch of this report was covered by:

• The Telegraph
• Daily Mail
• The Sun
• The Express
• GB News
• POLITICO’s London Playbook