More than 5,000 working days lost at Salisbury District Hospital due to Covid-19
NHS Digital data reveals the impact the first few months of pandemic had on staff absence.
5,370 working days were lost due to Covid-19 abscence at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust between March and May.
It means the virus was responsible for 34% of the 15,822 total days lost due to sickness over the three months.
Most Covid-related absences were reported in April, during the peak of the first wave, when 2,563 days were lost.
The figures include staff who contracted the virus, as well as those who had to quarantine because a family member showed symptoms, because of travel restrictions or because they had been advised to by contact tracers.
They do not show how many NHS staff were affected.
The NHS has urged caution over the figures, as trusts were not required to use the new coronavirus absence code or instructed on how to use it when it was introduced in March.
NATIONAL PICTURE
Across England, more than 1.3 million days of work were lost in the NHS due to coronavirus-related sickness between March and May.
Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said it was not clear how many of the absences were avoidable.
"These figures show how the real impact of Covid-19 on NHS staff absences continued into the summer even as the initial surge in cases abated."
"Nearly one in five days lost due to absence during May were Covid-related."
"Providing a safe environment for staff and patients is an absolute priority for trusts which is why capacity for regular testing is so important."
Meanwhile the Royal College of Nursing warned hospitals can "ill-afford to lose more staff" amid the predicted second wave, warning that rapid testing must be a priority as cases start to rise once more.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock recently announced that staff providing acute clinical care would be prioritised for tests, followed by people in care homes and other NHS staff.
TOLL ON MENTAL HEALTH
Health think tank The King's Fund said the pandemic has highlighted the "exceptional commitment" of NHS staff to ensuring the health system can cope, but warned it has taken a toll on their mental health.
Suzie Bailey, director of leadership and organisational development, said:
"There are already significant shortages of staff including nurses, widespread vacancies and an acceptance of excessive workloads."
"There is significant concern about staff wellbeing as hospitalisations increase."
Anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illness was the most reported reason for sickness absence in May, accounting for 28% of all days lost that month.