Health staff are taking the most sick days in the SA public sector

Workers in the state’s public health system are taking up to four days a year more sick leave than the average public servant — as figures show an increase in the number of overall sick days taken.

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Workers in the state’s public health system are taking up to four days a year more sick leave than the average public servant.

A spokesperson for Health Minster Stephen Wade said the figures were proof of a workforce under stress.

Analysis of sick leave figures from the Office of the Public Sector shows public servants took an average of 10.33 days last financial year, up from 10.1 the previous year.

Workers in key health services were well above the average. The worst figure of 14.38 days came from the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, which includes Flinders Medical Centre.

This year is the first time the Office of the Public Sector has published separate figures for each health network, meaning it is not possible to compare year-on-year figures.

The spokesperson said the sick leave numbers were too high.

“It’s not surprising that sick leave is relatively higher for people whose job it is to care for sick people in hospitals,” she said.

“However, the levels of sick leave in the health sector are too high and are proof of a workforce under stress.”

Mr Wade’s office blamed the former state government, pointing to an independent health report card covering its tenure that showed South Australia had the four worst performing Emergency Departments in the country.

“We have enlisted the help of KordaMentha, whose targets include driving down sick leave by improving the culture within the Central Adelaide Local Health Network,” the spokesperson said.

“We are empowering our clinicians and staff with the right tools to be able to better care for their patients, while also reducing their own stress levels.”

Administrators KordaMentha have a one-year, $18.9 million contract to implement the financial recovery plan for CALHN they were paid $2 million to devise.

Ambulance crews leave their lights on as a silent protest while ramping at the RAH, waiting for a bed for their patients so they can get back on the road. Picture: Ambulance Employees Association / Facebook

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said Mr Wade must take some responsibility for issues in the health system, adding KordaMentha’s presence “is only increasing the stressful demands” on the doctors and nurses.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Elizabeth Dabars said it was crucial frontline health workers did not go to work when sick due to the risk of spreading illnesses.

“It could be catastrophic,” she said.

“(But) it is absolutely clear that for the last 12 months nurses have been working in a high pressure and stressed system.”

Toughening up public service key to fightback

A plan to help build resilience in South Australia’s 90,000-strong public service workforce will be released early next year, as new figures show sick leave is growing across the sector.

Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri told The Advertiser the plan would address concerns raised by public servants in a South Australian-first survey earlier this year.

“My office will work with public sector leaders to collaboratively develop a whole-of-government action plan on the survey’s themes,” she said, adding about 2000 public servants were set to undergo mental health first aid training.

Commissioner Ranieri stressed it was important for public servants to stay at home when they were unwell.

“Naturally, there will always be a range of reasons as to why people require personal leave,” she said.

Business SA executive director for industry and government engagement, Anthony Penney, said the increase in sick leave was not surprising given many departments had been undergoing restructures following the election of a new government.

“With that comes uncertainty and people take leave,” he said.

“When any organisation restructures or employees know a restructure is coming that creates a lot of uncertainty and uncertainty leads to stress.

“It is well documented that sick leave increases during periods of change.”

The sick leave figures come a week afterSA Best MP Frank Pangallo told The Advertiser he believed bullying was rife in the public service, based on complaints to his office.

Mr Pangallo is using Freedom of Information requests to uncover figures on bullying within government departments, including the number of working days lost through successful workers compensation claims for mental stress.