Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ100915

The health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce is a priority for the Welsh Government and I expect NHS employers to place staff health and wellbeing at the heart of workforce and service planning and to take appropriate action to prevent ill health, support staff who are absent and enable a safe and sustainable return to work.

Responsibility for the day-to-day management of sickness absence within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board rests with the health board as the employer.

However, we support a range of national measures to complement the services available locally. This includes establishing minimum standards for occupational health services across NHS Wales, to promote more consistent and equitable access to timely support.

We also invest £1.5 million each year in Canopi, which provides free and confidential mental health and wellbeing support to NHS and social care staff across Wales, alongside locally provided occupational health and psychological wellbeing services.

The NHS Wales Staff Survey is also an important source of insight into staff wellbeing, engagement and workplace experience. I encourage all staff to participate and expect NHS organisations to listen to their staff and use the findings to inform targeted action and continuous improvement.