Commenting on a report from think tank Reform, showing NHS staff take on average 12 days off sick each year compared with 7.2 days in the private sector, Richard Macmillan, chief executive of healthcare staffing strategy Pulse, said: "Our observations are mainly around clinical staff, but challenging work conditions, demanding jobs and hard targets are stress-causing factors in the profession."
And findings in 2008 from the Royal College of Surgeons showed on average junior doctors in hospitals were working 52 hours per week.
The Reform report shows 30% of NHS absence is due to stress. Macmillan added: "NHS staff often work in a 24/7 environment and most staff in the private sector - although dealing with stress caused by the recession - will not be under this kind of pressure."
But the findings from Reform come as NHS Employers released staff research showing staff engagement levels were up from 2008 levels.
Macmillan said: "There is a long way to go. But the NHS is coming around to the idea of flexible working and arrangements like this are increasing in the profession. New initiatives such as e-rostering are making flexible working easier.
"The Working Time Directive coming into effect in August will mean doctors cannot work more than 48 hours per week. This will help as well."
Long working hours and workplace conditions led to high NHS absence
The high rate of absence in the NHS is caused by long working hours and workplace conditions, according to one industry expert.
