STRESS has been revealed to be one of the main reasons for staff sickness at the Oxford Health Foundation Trust (OHFT).

A recent report presented to the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee found staff sickness levels at the trust have remained constant at around four per cent for the last three years.

However, the sickness review requested by the committee revealed the main regular causes of sickness absence to be stress (both work-related and other causes) and musculoskeletal issues.

The meeting heard how health bosses at the trust had set up a 'Stress Group' which was examining a number of causes and potential solutions to staff stress including additional staffing, flexible working, providing best available equipment, providing more training and support, "back to the floor" initiatives by senior managers and examining situations where demand has grown rapidly.