Patients left 'languishing on waiting lists' as NHS staff take record 8million days off for anxiety and stress

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 22:51, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 22:54, 6 April 2026 NHS staff were off work with mental health issues such as anxiety and stress for a record eight million days last year, figures reveal. Health bosses left patients 'languishing on waiting lists' as they struggled to cope with rocketing absences due to sickness and industrial action. Resident doctors will today cause more misery, cancellations and delays with another walkout in pursuit of a 26 per cent pay rise. The number of sick days taken by NHS staff due to poor mental health has soared by 42 per cent since 2020 and comes amid wider concern about the nation's approach to such issues.  The NHS in England lost 28million days to staff sickness in 2025, up from 21million in 2020 and higher than in any previous year, according to newly published data. Of these, more than one in four – a record 7.9 million – were due to 'anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illnesses.' Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, which analysed the NHS England sickness data, said: 'Taxpayers will be utterly stunned by the sheer scale of working days lost within the NHS.  'While genuine illness is unavoidable, absence rates have soared to record highs year after year, costing the public billions and leaving patients languishing on record waiting lists. New figures have revealed NHS staff were off work with mental health issues such as anxiety and stress for a record eight million days last year The NHS in England lost 28million days to staff sickness in 2025, up from 21million in 2020 and higher than in any previous year 'Hard-working Britons in the private sector, who foot the bill for the health service, will be asking why NHS management seems completely incapable of keeping its own workforce healthy and on the job. 'Health bosses must urgently get a grip on this crisis. Every day lost is a day that should have been spent cutting the backlog.'  The health service has lost 151.6million days to sickness since records began in their current form in mid-2019, meaning 6 per cent of all working days were lost to poor health – three times more than the average across all sectors. Furthermore, the NHS lost 262,592 days to industrial action by resident doctors last year, with the British Medical Association marching its members out on strike in July, October and December. From yesterday, new laws passed by the Government mean employees are entitled to sick pay from their first day in a job. Rory Deighton, acute director at The NHS Alliance, which represents healthcare organisations, said: 'It's very concerning to see that staff sickness days are increasing, including a rise in days lost to mental health. 'Health leaders are doing all they can to ensure a supportive workplace environment in often-challenging circumstances. 'The pressures posed by the pandemic and its aftermath have placed an extraordinary burden on staff, delivering increasingly complex care in the face of a relentless rise in demand. The number of sick days taken by NHS staff due to poor mental health has soared by 42 per cent since 2020 'The very tough financial climate within and beyond the NHS, alongside the uncertainties posed by reform and redundancies may also have played a part. 'Staff are looking for coherence and hope from the Government in its approach to the health and care workforce. The forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan is a real opportunity to provide this.' NHS England said about 7.25 million routine treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of January, relating to 6.13 million patients. A Department of Health spokesman said its upcoming plan will 'ensure every member of staff feels supported, valued and able to thrive in their role.' They added: 'NHS staff have faced extraordinary demands, including covering sustained periods of industrial action, while continuing to deliver for patients. 'This Government is committed to making the NHS a better, healthier place to work as part of its 10 Year Health Plan – further strike action only makes that harder.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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