Absenteeism - 5% of hospital hours lost

[Posted: Thu 01/05/2008 by Niall Hunter, Editor - www.irishhealth.com]

Nearly 5% of staff hours in the hospital service are lost through absenteeism, according to figures from the HSE.

The HSE says it has launched an Absence Management Strategy for 2008 to deal with the issue of absenteeism and try to reduce rates of absence.

Figures provided by the HSE in a PQ to Fianna Fail TD Chris Andrews showed that the overall absenteeism rate among 10 major acute hospitals was 4.8%.

The highest number of hours lost due to absenteeism, at 8.4% was recorded among general support staff.

The absenteeism figures for other staff were:

*Medical/dental - 0.5%

*Nursing - 5.1%

*Health/social care professionals - 3.3%

*Management/admin - 5.4%

*Other patient/client care - 4.8%.

According to the HSE, it has identified absence management as a key service priority which can provide considerable cost benefits if appropriate controls are put in place.

It said a target of 10% reduction in absenteeism levels has been set as a 'key result area' for health service managers during 2008.

Lollipop  Posted: 01/05/2008 23:49

Bullying, from my experience is rampant in Irish hospitals and contributing in large measure to absenteeism, low staff morale, and sub-optimal productivity.

Anonymous   Posted: 02/05/2008 10:47

Two questions: How does this compare with the private sector, is it above or below average And. When they use the word absenteeism, does it refer to illness or what? That needs to be clarified.

pakel  Posted: 07/05/2008 08:16

Is this really a major problem or just another cost cutting measure for the HSE., on top of the recruitment freeze, which was only supposed to be for a couple of months before Christmas, but in my experience it still remains in place putting ever increasing pressure on existing staff, no wonder people are taking time off, exaustion1!

To join the discussion, register by clicking here