NHS Sickness Absence Rates: January 2017 to March 2017 and Annual Summary 2010-11 to 2016-17

Key findings
•Between January and March 2017 the average sickness absence rate for the NHS in England was 4.29 per cent, a slight decrease from the same period in 2016.
•The North West HEE region had the highest average sickness absence rate for January - March 2017 at 4.92 per cent. North West London HEE region had the lowest average at 3.38 per cent.
•Healthcare Assistants and Other Support Staff were the staff group with the highest average sickness absence rate for January - March 2017 with an average of 6.43 per cent. Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Learners had the lowest average at 1.03 per cent.
•Amongst types of organisation, Ambulance Trusts had the highest average sickness absence rate for January - March 2017 with an average of 5.54 per cent. Commissioning Support Units had the lowest average for this period, with a rate of 2.91 per cent.
•The national annual sickness absence rate fell between 2009-10 and 2011-12. It fell from 4.40 per cent to 4.12 per cent. It has risen and fallen consecutively each year since 2012-13 (4.24 per cent) and in 2016-17 is now at its most recent increase (4.16 per cent).