Comments on: It’s because they work with sick people

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:03:28 +0000

I'm sure you have a legitimate point about spending more time off ill because they are working with sick people, but I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown of sick leave between frontline staff and those in the backoffices (like a friend's housemate whose job seems to be encouraging nurses to blog and "digital engagement" between the hospital and community (namely running twitter and facebook pages). Sorry, got a little off topic at the end.

By: The Chemist

The Chemist — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:34:21 +0000

Never mind that privatized healthcare leads to a lot more sick people in general.

By: Tony Kennick

Tony Kennick — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:07:43 +0000

The Guardian had some stuff on this story and while the glib responce sounds good the two big issues are skeleto-muscular issues and depression. The former is definitly not catching…

By: Richard T

Richard T — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:34:06 +0000

Can I put in a PS to my comment. One of the primary reasons for a high level of sickness absence derives from the composiiton of the NHS staff - it is predominately female, and largely low paid. The majority have family commitments. So a bairn goes ill and you've no-one to get to look after it. Do you;

a leave the bairn alone at home?
b call in for a day's holiday but you've none left?
c call in as a family emergency and lose a day's pay?
d call in sick?

It's obvious what the majority do and in the circumstances it's more than understandable although doubtless wrong. But what else are they to do?

By: Richard T

Richard T — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:30:39 +0000

You might also add that someone working with sick people who has some form of contagious sickness – stomach upset, flu or a cold for example – should not return to work until all symptoms have passed otherwise they will simply infect the patients. Unlike other areas of work they shouldn't struggle in heroically and this typically is going add one normally two days to the absence levels.

By: formulaic666

formulaic666 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:18:19 +0000

'apparently inconceivable idea that if you come into people who have contagious illnesses, then you may become ill'

I think you may have just inadvertantly uncovered anoother story there. Let's hope a lazy Daily Mail journo doesn't come here and decide to use this as proof that NHS are molesting patients sexually and picking up STDs beforwe phoning in sick.

By: armyofdave

armyofdave — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:05:40 +0000

I'm presuming Matthew Bannister was covering for Jeremy Vine, who's callers appear to be the Daily Mail readers who are unable to write, so cannot post on the Mail website and can only SHOUT DOWN THE PHONE ON RADIO 2!!!