NHS staff in west Hertfordshire are bucking a national trend, taking less than half the annual average number of sick days.
A report earlier this week revealed the average NHS worker takes 10.7 sick days per year, and that 15,000 staff absences a day could be cut if the health service did more to tackle sickness.
However, at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Watford General, Hemel Hempstead General and St Albans City Hospitals, staff sickness levels were at 4.9 days per employee for 2008/09.
In 2007/08, the figure stood at five days per employee, and statistics for 2009/10 show that number has dropped further to 4.4 days.
A hospital trust representative said: “West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust takes the wellbeing of our staff extremely seriously.”
Among the activities provided for staff to take part in are: six week yoga and tai chi courses, weight management classes, back care week, take-a-break days, healthy eating and a 24 hour staff helpline where workers can seek help and advice, or have face-to-face counselling.
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