Nurses and midwives are so “overwhelmed” thousands of days are lost because of mental ill health according to research.
Figures show that in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, over the past four years 181,801 days were lost to the health board from staff forced to take time off work.
The figures were obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats who said urgent action is needed to address “staff burnout”.
Across Scotland the total days lost due to nurses and midwives mental ill health absence since 2020 was 762,935.
The LibDems said it equivalent to more than 2000 years of working time.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, LibDem leader, said: “Ever since Nicola Sturgeon cut nursing training places and claimed that was somehow ‘sensible’, nursing staff have faced a raft of pressures.
“These figures show that many of them now feel completely overwhelmed.
“This matters because when nurses are stressed and run off their feet, they are in no position to provide the highest quality care for their patients.”
He said the Scottish Government must reconsider its plan for the NHS to ensure staff are supported and able to work without damaging their own health.
The party leader added: “The government must urgently rewrite their failed recovery plan so that it prioritises the
recruitment and retention of hardworking staff.
“That means taking measures to tackle burnout and creating a health and social care staff assembly to put to use the expertise of those who know our health service best.”
