Newcastle Borough Council is to consider how it provides healthcare for staff after blaming high levels of sickness absence on NHS waiting lists.

The council says the level of staff sickness has increased significantly since the pandemic and warned this is having an impact on some of its services.

A council report due to be discussed on Monday states: "Absence rates are exacerbated by external issues such as NHS waiting lists, particularly with regard to musculoskeletal conditions."

It adds: "The cost of sickness absence across the council in Q1 was approximately £240,000; it is therefore important that we continue to monitor and reduce absence levels."

The council has been struggling with a high level of staff absence due to sickness for around two years, and cites tackling the issue as being an important way to help with future recruitment and retention.

Council leader, Cllr Simon Tagg said: "Sickness is still an issue in this council, for many reasons, but mainly people waiting to get appointments at hospital. We're looking at ways to try to circumvent that."

He said the council had discussed the issue with unions, and he was looking forward to hearing what suggestions the scrutiny committee comes up with.

A council report on the issue is due to be discussed today (LDRS).

Cllr Robert Bettley-Smith pointed out the issue is not unique to the authority, but that it is something which needs addressing.

He said: "We do see that it's higher than we would want, but we are not – as a local authority, or any other organisation – an outlier because sickness absence has changed post-covid.

"I do welcome the future delivery proposals, where the aim is to establish a robust and supportive service model – enabling the council to sustain its commitment to staff health, reduce sickness absence and uphold our compliance with health and safety obligations."

A report by officers said the issue has also been exacerbated by an ageing workforce.

It states: "People are more likely to develop at least one long-term health condition as they get older and this can lead to sickness absenteeism and/or presenteeism (people attending work when they are not at their most productive).

"This is ever more important for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and in particular our Sustainable Environment services in which over 55% of the workforce are aged 50+ and where sickness absence is highest within the organisation.

"Employee health and wellbeing contributes to directly to overall performance of services and therefore resident experience within the borough.

"The health of our officers is and should be paramount and considering how best we support physical and mental health in the organisation is the right thing to do and has a positive impact on both our reputation as a provider of services, but also as an employer of choice."

The council says national data shows that 2022 saw record levels of employee absence across the country, and it's likely statistics for 2023 will be similar.

The council currently uses an outsourced occupational health service, which carries out health checks and consultations with staff.

Officers feel the provision of this service is vital to recruitment and retention at the authority.

They say in a report: "Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has a number of recruitment challenges due to our size and location and therefore maximising our reputation and benefits provision is a key point in our recruitment strategy.

"Operationally, a strong occupational health service conducting quick and robust pre-employment checks will give a positive impression to candidates and support managers in moving forward the recruitment and on-boarding process quickly and efficiently."

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