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The Department of Health (DH) says it is committed to cutting nurses' sickness absence to no more than 3 per cent by next year despite figures showing a slight increase.
Latest statistics from the NHS Information Centre show nurses, midwives and health visiting staff in England had a sickness absence rate of 5.22 per cent during July, August and September last year- up from 4.96 per cent between April and June.
Staff records
The figures are the first to be published since England's chief nursing officer Dame Chris Beasley announced the 3 per cent target.
The DH reaffirmed its commitment ro the target last week, bur admitted it is a 'challenging ambition'.