Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat MP who obtained the data through a parliamentary question, said: “These incredibly worrying figures show the mental health of NHS workers was already at a tipping point before the pandemic stuck.
“Many nurses, doctors and other NHS staff have been left exhausted and traumatised from the crisis and they now need extra support.
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The NHS is losing more than 3.5 million days of work by staff because of sickness linked to mental health problems, it has emerged.
New data from NHS England shows the problem is also getting worse with an increasing number of days and proportion of staff off sick for mental health reasons.
The data runs from March 2019 to February 2020, before the coronavirus crisis. It is feared the pandemic could lead to lasting mental health issues for some NHS workers.
“The Liberal Democrats have proposed a series of measures to ensure no-one slips through the net as the scale of the mental health impact of this crisis emerges. NHS staff are working round the clock to keep our health service afloat, so support must be available whenever it is needed.”
People ride a rollercoaster in a theme park next to Southend pier. Many businesses in tourism and hospitality have been able to reopen after some lockdown measures were eased
West Indies’s John Campbell and Jason Holder celebrate winning the test as England’s Rory Burns and teammates look on dejected
Chicldren play in the water during a cricket match between Abinger and Worplesdon & Nurpham in Abinger Hammer, Surrey
People gather for the funeral of Dame Vera Lynn in Ditchling, England. During World War II she travelled to the frontlines, including Burma, entertaining British troops and boosting morale. She died on 18 June at her home in West Sussex
