The national health service sickness absence survey was first collected in 1999. It is not possible to split the rates into staff groups. The following table shows NHS sickness absence rates from 1999 to 2005.
Percentage 1999 4.9 2000 4.7 2001 4.8 2002 4.6 2003 4.7 2004 4.6 2005 4.5 Notes: 1. Sickness absence rate is defined as the amount of time lost through absences as a percentage of staff time available. 2. This does not cover maternity leave, carers’ leave or any periods of absence agreed under family friendly/flexible working policies. 3. General practitioners and their staff are not included in the above figures. 4. The above figures are estimates as some organisations in the NHS did not provide figures for sickness absence. Source: The Information Centre for health and social care sickness absence survey.