Number of working days lost at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust due to staff stress, anxiety and depression increases by more than 9,000 in recent years

The number of working days lost at the region’s ambulance service due to stress, anxiety and depression has increased by more than 9,000 in recent years as staff are ‘pushed beyond their limits’.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) revealed sickness absences (full time equivalent days) due to anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses shot up from 32,998.32 in 2019 to 42,173.12 so far this year.

The trust said that while sickness for mental health reasons had risen by 27.8 per cent since 2019, the increase correlated to a 27.1 per cent uplift in staff numbers.

However, it said the trust was working hard to address the issue by making substantial investments to support colleagues.

Union UNISON said after more than a decade of belt-tightening, it was hardly surprising that stress was continuing to take such a toll on ambulance staff.

The figures, secured following a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews, show the number of days lost across the trust was 32,286.89 in 2020, 48,558.30 in 2021, 46,071.91 in 2022 and 40,607.94 last year.

In Suffolk and North Essex for staff serving A&E, the days amounted to 4,303.97 in 2019, 3,890.19 in 2020, 6,011.23 in 2021, 6,218.62 in 2022, 4,578.69 in 2023 and 4,644.86 so far this year.

The total for A&E was 21,097.16 in 2019 compared to 25,345.22 in 2024.

For the Patient Transport Service for Suffolk and North Essex, the days lost were 497.72 in 2019, 655.50 in 2020, 656.75 in 2021, 709.80 in 2022, 461 last year and 824.46 so far this year.

The substantive full time equivalent staff in post rose from 4,905.44 in 2019 to 6,235.07 as at July 31 this year.

Glenn Carrington, UNISON East of England Ambulance Service branch chair, said: “After 14 years of austerity, ambulance workers have been pushed beyond their limits. It doesn’t feel like we’ve had a 27 per cent rise in staff numbers when we’re still spending shifts rushed off our feet or queuing outside A&Es.”

In a UNISON survey earlier this year, which more than 12,000 people responded to, 89 per cent of NHS staff said better pay and recognition would improve their wellbeing.

Mr Carrington said: “The recent pay rise is a start, but there’s still a long way to go to make up for more than a decade where our pay hasn’t kept up with inflation.

“We can’t care for others if the NHS isn’t caring for us. Managers must ensure staff have manageable workloads, can take regular breaks and have proper support.”

An EEAST spokesperson said it took the health and wellbeing of staff extremely seriously and offered a wide range of support.

They said they recognised staff’s mental health was a consequence of many complex factors, both in and out of work.

“We now employ more staff than ever before and at the same time, awareness of mental health difficulties has increased and we have worked hard to rid the trust of the stigma surrounding mental health,” the spokesperson said.

“Consequently more of our staff feel able to open up when they need help, which has increased reporting across the trust.”

Investments in mental health and wellbeing include a dedicated wellbeing hub where staff could access confidential help and advice and a 24-hour crisis service.

There are also processes that support managers, the individual and colleagues if someone is in crisis, as well as a health and wellbeing app ‘Time for Me’, co-designed by EEAST and Hapstar with information on ways to confidentially ask for help.

Welfare Wagons based across the six counties in the region provide support for staff at hospitals where crews often wait to hand over patients and at the scene of long or challenging incidents.

The trust also provides specialist trauma support therapists to help staff deal with complex and sensitive issues and a Trauma Risk Management service.

On Friday, Robert Rous, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, will launch the East of England Ambulance Service’s new hub at Suffolk Park on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds.

It includes several welfare spaces for staff including a quiet room, multi-faith room, nursing room, a gym and outside wellbeing spaces.