STRESSED out nurses are taking time off sick at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
Hospital bosses say overwork is pushing nurses into going on the sick.
The total of staff illnesses has actually reduced this year because of the mild winter but nurses are still taking - on average - 12 days a year off work.
Chief executive of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust John Brunt said: "A very high proportion of that is down to stress factors resulting in many cases from high levels of work load which staff are experiencing."
Duty loads have increased both because of higher patient numbers and because the trust has delayed replacing staff to cut costs.
Figures reveal nurses taking the most time off are those who work with mentally ill patients.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article