In the year 2005, sickness absence rates in the NHS ranged between 2.5-6.0% with an average of 4.5%. For the two NHS Trusts participating in this pilot, combined sickness absence costs during 2004/5 were around £14 million. This report aimed to explore ways that more effective “real time” data could be collected in order to assist both managers and occupational health in their efforts to support employees back to work, and to reduce the amount of work related ill health. Research report number RR531.
