SOUTH Lakeland MP Tim Farron has raised concerns about the pressure on local NHS staff.

NHS data released this week shows that sickness absence rates are higher than average in the area.

Nationally, the sickness absence rate in the NHS for the last year has been 4.15 per cent.

The rate for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust is 4.9 per cent, whilst that of the Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust is 4.57 per cent. The rate for the North West Ambulance Service is 5.84 per cent.

Mr Farron said: “High sickness absence rates are often an indicator of poor staff morale and high levels of stress.

"Sadly, this is unsurprising given the pressure which staff are under. Resources are increasingly strained, as local NHS services have to cover a huge, sparsely-populated area. The government must look seriously at what can be done to relieve pressure on health services in rural areas like ours, to ensure that rural areas get the services they need. Our local NHS staff are excellent and need our support.”

Lynn Marsland, the director for Workforce and Organisational Development at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said that the 'health and wellbeing' of its staff was a priority for the Trust.

"In June 2016 a workforce and organisational development strategic plan was put in place within the Trust; this aims to support our workforce through a series of on-going process and new initiatives, including employee engagement and wellbeing," she said. "For example, we have introduced support for early access to occupational health advice and mindfulness sessions for staff – led by a dedicated mindfulness coordinator, employed by the Trust.

"We always aim to prioritise supporting our staff and the decline since November 2014 highlights this. Through our managers and team leaders we endeavour for staff sickness and absence rates to continually improve going forward, as reflected in our strategic plan."