More than 1,500 staff at a Swindon NHS trust have taken at least one day off work due to a mental health issue in the past three years, new data shows.

A total of 1,760 Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust staff have taken time off due to their mental health since 2021, with figures rising in the past year.

The data obtained by Legal Expert highlights the pressure on NHS staff and the rising impact on their mental health.

Earlier this year, it was announced government funding ended for a national network of mental health and wellbeing hubs that were established in 2020-21 to support NHS frontline workers during the pandemic.

The closures of these hubs are believed to have contributed to the increase in staff absences due to mental health reasons.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which provides healthcare services for Swindon and the surrounding area, saw 621 staff members taking a day off for mental health reasons in 2021/22.

This number decreased to 550 the following year, but rose again to 589 the next year.

According to a recent poll conducted by NHS Charities, three out of four NHS staff have experienced poor mental health in the past year.

In a statement about its poll, NHS Charities Together said: "Far from being a seasonal issue, ‘winter pressures’ are felt by NHS staff all year round.

"A huge 96 per cent of NHS staff surveyed said they believed that pressure on NHS services is growing.

"Faced with the responsibilities of saving lives, high workload, long and unsociable hours, and exposure to traumatic events, it’s no surprise that many NHS staff are struggling with their mental health.

"These findings confirm how vital it is to prioritise mental well-being of the NHS workforce so that they can continue to deliver the best care for their patients."

Legal Expert also obtained figures on the specific reasons staff gave for their mental health-related absence.

The most common mental health issues NHS staff face are anxiety, depression, and stress.

Keeping in line with the general increase in mental health absences across the country, these specific issues have been reported more and more by Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust staff members.

A survey conducted by The Royal College of Nursing revealed pay is the biggest source of dissatisfaction among nurses.

Eighty-eight per cent of respondents indicated a pay rise would significantly improve their situation.