Sickness Absence In NI Public Sector Costs Economy £149m

The cost of sickness absence across the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the health and education sectors was estimated at £149 million in 2010-11 - £30 million for the Civil Service, £73 million for health trusts and £46 million for the education sector, according to the Audit Office.

In the Civil Service, the overall sickness absence level was 13.4 days per staff year in 2005-06. By 2010-11, this had fallen to 10.7 days or 4.9% of working days available with a further reduction in 2011-12 to 10.1 days (4.6%)

In the health and social care sector, the Northern Ireland regional average for sickness absence in trusts was 5.5% of working days available in 2010-11. A regional average was not available for earlier years but, based on sickness absence rates for individual trusts, it is likely that the overall trend in the level of sickness absence is downward.

In the education sector, teachers' sickness absence has fallen from 9.25 days per teacher in 2006-07 to 7.27 days in 2010-11. Absences reduced further in 2011-12 to 7.22 days. Information was not available on overall absences in Northern Ireland for non-teaching staff, but there have been significant increases in two of the six education authorities from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Long-term sickness accounts for the majority of sickness absence in all sectors – around 70% of days lost due to sickness absence in the Civil Service, 66% in health and social care trusts and 60% of teachers’ sickness absence.

Mental health issues are recognised as the main cause of long term sickness absence in each of the sectors and have a significant impact on overall sickness absence levels. Musculo-skeletal problems are also a significant cause of absence within trusts.

Mr Donnelly said: "Sickness absence in the Northern Ireland public sector results in a significant cost. I welcome the improvements that are being made. However, targets have not always been met and there is scope for further improvements. If absence levels could be reduced to match those in Great Britain, savings of £37 million are possible."

(CD)