The following table presents the average working days lost per person in the Department for the years available and the associated cost estimates for sickness. The cost estimates for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not available.
Average working days lost per person Cost estimate (£ million) 2008-09 5.6 n/a 2007-08 5.3 n/a 2006-07 6.5 2.1 2005 7.0 2.2 2004 3.8 5.3 n/a = not available Note: Cost estimates given are based on information published in the annual civil service sickness absence reports, available on the Cabinet Office website.
The figure for 2004 includes both the core Department and its Agencies: the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency.
Reporting periods changed from calendar years to financial years between 2005 and 2006.