Mental health has taken 1,000 days’ toll for hospital staff in Croydon

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Staff at two of Croydon’s biggest hospitals have taken nearly 1,000 days off in the past year due to mental health issues, according to a nationwide study.

A recent investigation has revealed that hundreds of Croydon NHS staff have taken at least one day off due to mental health issues over the past three years.

Since 2021, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has recorded 955 such absences, with numbers rising in the last year.

Earlier this year, government funding for mental health and well-being hubs for NHS workers was cut.

These hubs, set up in 2020-21 to support staff during the pandemic, were seen as vital for those struggling with mental health, but their closure may well have contributed to rising absences.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust operates Croydon University Hospital, Purley War Memorial Hospital, and provides community services in the borough. In 2021/22, 335 staff took mental health-related leave, a number that dropped to 295 in the following year, the lowest across the three-year period.

However, absences increased again in the past year, rising to 325. NHS Charities Together recently polled NHS staff, revealing that three out of four had faced mental health struggles, often due to pressures like pay and workload.

A significant 96 per cent of NHS staff surveyed agreed that service pressures were worsening. The toll of long hours, heavy workloads, and traumatic events on NHS staff has led to many struggling with their mental health.

In a statement about its poll NHS Charities Together, said: “Far from being a seasonal issue, ‘winter pressures’ are felt by NHS staff all year round. A huge 96 per cent of NHS staff surveyed said they believed that pressure on NHS services is growing.

“Faced with the responsibilities of saving lives, high workload, long and unsociable hours and exposure to traumatic events, it’s no surprise that many NHS staff are struggling with their mental health.”

The pressures on NHS staff are so severe that each of the 350,000 nurses in England took the equivalent of one week off work last year due to stress, anxiety, and depression. Staffing shortages and long shifts continue to push workers to their physical and mental limits.

In response to the recent findings, a spokesman for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said: “The NHS is facing significant challenges and increasing demand for its services. We know that these pressures can have an impact on the wellbeing of our staff and we are committed to supporting them, building their resilience and fostering a positive work environment.

“We have a number of health and wellbeing support services available for all staff to use, as well as offering dedicated counselling services to those who need additional support.”

Pictured top: Croydon University Hospital (Picture: Google Street View)