Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Workforce: Sickness Absence 2026-07-14

Tuesday 14 July 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to reduce sickness absence in the NHS workforce to its lowest recorded level.
  • Research shows NHS sickness absence costs 6 billion and removes 8 million clinician days from frontline care.
  • Government investment in Northampton General Hospital for a new urgent treatment centre is highlighted as an example of Labour's commitment to healthcare.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gregory Stafford Con
NHS Employment
Context

The question addresses the issue of high levels of sickness absence among NHS staff, which impacts service delivery and costs the organisation significantly. The MP is seeking specific steps to address this.

Question

What steps he is taking to reduce sickness absence in the NHS workforce?

Answer from James Murray

This Government are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our hard-working NHS staff, and we have set an ambition to reduce sickness absence to its lowest recorded level. As part of meeting that ambition, we have launched new staff standards to improve their working lives, and we will introduce staff treatment hubs to focus on the biggest causes of sickness absence.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Gregory Stafford Con
NHS
Context

Research indicates that NHS staff absence costs £6 billion and removes 8 million clinician days from frontline care. The MP is seeking concrete steps to address this issue.

Question

As the Health Secretary is a numbers man, perhaps he will be interested in these figures. Research from Policy Exchange shows that sickness absence in the NHS costs £6 billion and removes 8 million clinician days from the frontline. What will the Secretary of State do to get staff back to work, to get patients treated, and to get this ridiculous level of staff absence down?

Answer from James Murray

The 10-year health plan committed to our ambition to reduce sickness absence from 5.1%, which it was in July 2025, to the lowest recorded level in the NHS, at approximately 4.1%. As I set out in my earlier remarks, staff standards cover health and wellbeing, line management, flexible working, tackling violence and racism, and championing sexual safety. The staff treatment hubs that I mentioned, which will be rolled out in 2027, will focus on mental health and back conditions, which are the main reasons for absence.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Mike Reader Lab
NHS
Context

Investment of £17 million in Northampton General Hospital for a new urgent treatment centre and enhanced A&E is seen as crucial to supporting staff wellbeing and patient care.

Question

We know that sickness absence and stress are often related to people's workplaces. With £17 million now invested in Northampton general hospital for a new urgent treatment centre, and enhanced A&E opening this summer, does the Secretary of State agree that this is proof again that this Labour Government are investing in the infrastructure that our staff need to keep them safe and keep us safe too?

Answer from James Murray

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. He is absolutely right to point to the record investment that this Labour Government are putting in, not just for the day-to-day running of the health service, but the critical capital investment, after the capital budget was starved for so many years under the Conservative party.

Not addressed: Specific measures to address sickness absence and stress-related issues in workplaces

How: Changed Subject, Criticised Previous Government

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)