Acute Absence - FOI Response Register

Please provide the following information -

1. The total number of absences amongst nurses in acute settings from 2019 - 2023, broken down by a) financial year b) band and c) reason for absence.

Please see attached spreadsheet

Please note the following caveats:

• In order to determine nurses in acute settings employees with the post descriptor of general acute nursing as at 31st of March of each year were used
• Employees who have multiple posts and were absent in one or all of their posts have been counted separately. Therefore if an employee was absent in both posts they are counted as 2 instances of absence
• Figures for the current financial year are up to and including 31st December 2023 acknowledging that absences are normally reported one month in arrears.

Where we have given <10 answers, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.