NHS Fife revealed that 3579 staff were absent from work due to mental health issues between 2020-2022. These absences resulted in 96,336 working days being lost locally. Nationwide, almost 75,000 staff in Scotland’s NHS have been absent in the last five years due to mental health issues, amounting to a loss of more than 1.5 million work days.
Murdo Fraser, (Scottish Conservative for Mid Scotland and Fife) released the local and national figures last week after health boards across the country turned over data in answer to a series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from the party.
Mr Fraser said: “The scale of absences among staff working in NHS Fife due to mental health absences are deeply concerning. My thoughts are with those members of staff who have felt completely overwhelmed and needed to take time off work.”