Understanding Formal Sickness Absence Meetings in the NHS

🗂️ Understanding Formal Sickness Absence Meetings in the NHS

The Nursing Standard published an article in 2024 providing guidance at what to expect at a formal meeting about sickness absence. The article is available by clicking here – you may need to sign up to access a copy. We’ve summarised the paper below.

High levels of sickness absence among NHS staff -particularly due to stress and mental health conditions – can lead to formal sickness meetings.

These meetings are usually triggered when a member of staff has either a prolonged absence (28 days or more) or repeated short periods of illness.

The process typically progresses through stages (Levels 1 to 4), beginning with informal discussions and potentially leading to formal reviews involving HR, senior management, and union representation.

For staff with Long Covid or other chronic conditions, understanding and engaging with this process early is vital.

Staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their organisation’s sickness absence policy, keep detailed records of their health and absences, and seek union support where needed. Outcomes from these meetings can include adjustments to duties, changes to shift patterns, access to occupational health, phased return-to-work plans, or redeployment. In some cases, if a return to work is not feasible, contract termination may be considered—but this should always be a last resort. Tools like the NHS sickness absence toolkit, Access to Work, and health adjustment passports can help ensure fair and supportive treatment throughout the process.