Nurses and midwives take 1m-plus mental health sick days in five years – figures

Scotland’s nurses and midwives have taken more than 1,000,000 days off in the last five years because of mental ill health, figures have revealed.

Nursing and midwifery staff took a total of 1,091,134 days off as a result of such problems between 2020-21 and 2024-25 – the equivalent of 2,987 years.

The figures, released under freedom of information to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, showed the number of sick days resulting from mental ill health increased by 15% in the most recent year, going from 221,357 in 2023-24 to 253,873 in 2024-25.

Scotland’s largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, had the largest number of days off last year – with nurses and midwives taking 64,528 days off because of poor mental health in 2024-25.

Speaking as the figures were revealed, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “When nurses and midwives are stressed and run off their feet, they are in no position to provide the highest quality care for their patients.”

He added: “The Scottish Liberal Democrats believe Scotland deserves better than this.

“SNP health secretaries have come and gone but on their watch the situation is simply getting better. Mental health is still treated like a second class service.”

The Lib Dem leader said the Scottish Government must “urgently rewrite” the “failed” NHS recovery plan, produced in the wake of the Covid pandemic, “so that it prioritises the recruitment and retention of hardworking staff, preventing burnout and ensuring there are enough staff on each shift”.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Government is “working to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to work”.

He said: “Our NHS staff do incredible work every day, often in very challenging circumstances, and their welfare and mental health is a top priority.

“Over the past decade, Scotland’s NHS workforce has grown significantly, with 3,267 midwives, up 11%, and 64,059 nurses, up 14%, helping to strengthen care for mothers, babies, and patients across the country.

“To support our staff, we offer a range of wellbeing resources, including a 24/7 compassionate listening service; confidential mental health treatment through the workforce specialist service; and access to psychological therapies.

“Our national wellbeing hub also provides self-care tools and signposting to additional mental health support.”