Dunbar Hospital staff sickness rate is highest in NHS Highland
Dunbar Hospital in Thurso has the highest rate of staff sickness across NHS Highland, it has emerged.
Its sickness absence level for 2024 stood at 15.04 per cent, more than any other hospital in the health board area, and in 2023 it was even higher at 18.98 per cent.
The statistics were obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests by a Caithness resident who described the Dunbar absence rates as “extraordinary”.
The Dunbar figures were the highest across the NHS Highland area in four of the six years covered by the FOI requests – in 2019 (12.06 per cent), 2020 (11.58), 2023 (18.98) and 2024 (15.04).
Sickness absence levels at the Thurso hospital stood at 5.50 per cent in 2021 and 3.87 in 2022.
The rate at Caithness General Hospital in 2024 was 6.51 per cent, and 5.86 the year before that.
NHS Highland sickness absence rate for 2024 (expressed as a percentage): New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital, 8.85; Raigmore Hospital, 5.97; Caithness General Hospital, 6.51; Dunbar Hospital, 15.04; Belford Hospital, 6.89; Portree Hospital, 12.62; Broadford Hospital, 5.96; Osprey House, 9.97; Lorn and Isles Hospital, 5.48; Mid Argyll Community Hospital, 7.52; psychiatry department, 8.74; psychology department, 4.80; Raigmore maternity department, 8.66; entire organisation, 6.28.
Iain Gregory, vice-chairman of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), said: “Clearly it is very difficult to comment on these figures without having a full understanding of the situation, or indeed any background information, but our first concern must of course be for the health and wellbeing of the staff affected.
“We are fortunate in Caithness to have dedicated and caring healthcare professionals looking after patients right across the county, and we are well aware of the pressures they are under on a day-to-day basis. They have the full support of CHAT and we wish any staff members who may currently be off sick a swift and full recovery.
“I have no doubt that NHS Highland would wish to review the situation, with a view to supporting staff, reducing sickness levels and ensuring that there is no detrimental effect upon patients.”
A spokesperson for NHS Highland said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is important, which includes supporting staff through periods of sickness.
“In areas where there are small numbers of employees within teams, percentage figures of sickness as the only data available can look misleading. We do ensure that all staff are managed and supported appropriately.”