Record numbers of nurses taking sick leave due to stress

The number of NHS nurses having to take time off work because of the stress of their jobs is on the increase.

Between 2010 and 2015, nearly every trust in our region saw an increase in stress-related sick leave.

In North Bristol, the number of employees taking time off because of stress rose from 4.5% to nearly 7% in that time. The Royal College of Nursing blames shortage of staff in the NHS as a whole.

Many hospital trusts are trying to tackle the problem by providing activities and support services for staff, as nursing shortages and an increasing workload are taking their toll.

Sandra Hummerstone's been a nurse for more than thirty years - she now works as a lung cancer specialist.

To deal with pressures like these, Sandra joined a running club organised by her NHS trust.

She's completed the couch to 5k programme, and now helps others to do the same.

Many hospital trusts have their own health and wellbeing service to help staff cope with the pressures of the job. But the Royal College of Nursing says the level of stress among nurses is an ongoing problem that could prove more difficult to fix.

Dr Sheila Marriott, Royal College of Nursing

In a statement the Department of Health told us that staffing was a priority. A spokesperson said that there are more than 10,000 additional nurses in hospitals since 2010, and that the number of training places has been increased by 15% over the last four years.

But some hospital trusts say there is still a problem, and are recruiting nurses from abroad to to try and address it.