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NHS England: Sick Leave

Asked by Helen MorganLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 7 April 2026UIN 122774

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many days were taken by NHS England staff as sick leave in total in each of the last ten years; and what the average number was.

Answered by Karin Smyth

NHS England publishes monthly information on the sickness absence of staff employed by NHS bodies, including NHS England. This is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-sickness-absence-rates

Annual (financial year) summaries are included within the publication up to 2021/22. Subsequent years’ sickness absence days taken and the associated sickness absence rates can be constructed by aggregating the monthly published data.

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