In response to latest figures showing how many NHS staff are off work sick, NHS Providers' interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said:

"Almost 65,000 NHS workers off sick in September shows just how much pressure our people are under from severe staff shortages, growing demand on services and the rising cost of living.

"Anxiety, stress and depression accounted for almost 477,000 lost working days in June – more than one in five of all sickness absences. That lays bare the psychological strain on staff right across acute, mental health, community and ambulance services.

"NHS trust leaders, hamstrung by more than 132,000 vacancies, are doing everything they can to help the health and wellbeing of staff and to cover sickness absences.

"But to recruit and retain the personnel which the NHS desperately needs, easing the burden on current staff, the government must produce urgently a long-term, fully costed and funded national workforce plan."