MORE than two in five NHS staff absences at Dorset County Hospital were linked to Covid-19 in the week before last, figures show.

NHS Providers said hospitals were under “sustained” pressure, despite a recent fall in Covid-19 cases in the community nationally.

NHS England data shows an average of 200 staff were off sick each day in the week to January 23, with roughly 84 (42%) off daily because they had Covid-19 or were self-isolating due to the virus. However, this was down from the week before, when 48% of absent staff were off for Covid-related reasons.

Across England, an average of 72,000 NHS workers were off sick every day in the week to January 23, with 42% absent due to Covid – though this was down from 46%

the week before.

The data also shows 308 people arrived at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust A&E by ambulance in the week to January 23 – down from 354 the week before.

Of the arrivals, all were handed over to A&E staff within 30 minutes

The figures show the latest seven days were the busiest for ambulance arrivals at A&E departments in England so far this winter – 85,500 were logged by NHS trusts.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “While it is positive to see more NHS staff back at work, pressure on the NHS is still intense, having seen the busiest week for ambulances taking patients to A&E since the start of December – all while pushing to deliver as many routine checks and procedures as possible, including vital diagnostic checks.

“Our staff have already had what feels like a long winter, but despite everything they have had to contend with, they continue to step up as they always do.”

He added the NHS was continuing to work closely with the adult social care sector to ensure patients are safely discharged.

Separate figures show an average of 90,600 adult general and acute beds were open each day in the week to January 23 across hospitals in England, with 84,300 (93%) occupied.

At Dorset County Hospital, 308 beds were occupied each day on average that week – 98% of the 314 available.

This was broadly in line with the previous week.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, the body that represents health trusts in England, said the figures showed hospitals were “operating under sustained pressure,” despite a recent fall in Covid-19 cases.

She added: “We know that success in reducing delayed discharges is dependent on having enough staff to facilitate discharges and support patients once they are ready to return home or to other community settings.

“That’s why we are pleased to see that the number of staff absences due to Covid-19 is now decreasing after the Omicron peak, although it’s important to recognise that the total number of staff absences remains high.”