STAFF at Suffolk County Council are taking an average of nearly ten days off sick each year, it has been revealed.

The sickness rate at Suffolk County Council last year was 9.96 days per person - meaning more than 65,800 days were lost due to ill health.

The figures relate to non-school employees - but when you take into consideration the number of sickness days taken by teachers, assistants, school admin staff and caretakers the figure rises to a shocking 139,507 days.

Despite facing a sickness bill of more than �5m, Suffolk County Council defended the figures.

A spokeswoman said: “Suffolk County Council’s absence figures are in line with the local government average.

“We remain committed to supporting our staff and continue to develop ways to reduce the levels of absence and to improve health and wellbeing of our staff.

“Some of the methods we are using to reduce the levels of absence include a new occupational health contract, a proactive approach to managing long term illness and an employee assistance programme, which includes a 24/7, 365 day per year helpline available to all staff.”

The figures, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information request, also put the council above the UK average of 6.5 days per person which was calculated by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Kathy Pollard, leader of the Ipswich Liberal Democrat Party, said: “It is not good enough to say that the council’s figures are in line with the local government average.

“I have argued for many years that there should be a Human Resources subcommittee which examines issues like this.

“Staff have clearly been under a great deal of strain under the proposals contained in the New Strategic Direction.

“All steps should now be taken to improve staff morale and examine the causes of sickness absence in detail, if they are to be improved.”

Charlotte Linacre, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance added: “Of course genuine sickness needs understanding and employees on long term sick leave should be given help to get back to work where possible.

“But the number of sick days taken at Suffolk Council is above the national average, which suggests that there is an issue with absenteeism or engagement. “It’s crucial while the budgets are being brought down that the culture at the councils is geared towards productivity so that money isn’t wasted and taxpayers aren’t getting a raw deal.”

Meanwhile, the sickness rate in Essex during the last financial year was 8.8 days.