12-05-2025
A quarter of nurses' sick days are due to poor mental health
NHS nurses have taken almost 32.5 million days off sick over the past four years, nearly a quarter of them caused by mental health issues, according to data obtained by the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA).
The number of nurses who took time off for reasons such as anxiety and depression rose from 42,020 in 2021-22 to 46,416 in 2024-25, the pressure group found.
The figures were released after the TPA made freedom of information requests to all NHS trusts in England. They show that one in eight nurses took days off because of poor mental health at some point last year.
Trades unions have said the issue contributes to the health service staffing crisis. Panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains and headaches are among the
