Prison staff in Edinburgh took a staggering number of sick days, raising concerns about the state of Scotland’s prison services
So, here’s the scoop: they recorded 6,934 sick days in 2024 alone. And it’s not just them; other prisons in Scotland are seeing similar spikes. For instance, Barlinnie in Glasgow had over 9,000 sick days, and Glenochil wasn’t far behind.
From January to October, more than 65,000 working days were lost due to illness. That’s a lot of time! Staff are feeling worn out and overwhelmed. Phil Fairlie from the Prison Officers Association mentioned that many are dealing with serious injuries and mental health issues.
He pointed out that these officers have been working in tough conditions for years, breaking up fights and responding to alarms. It’s no wonder they’re feeling “tired and broken.” It’s just not realistic to expect them to keep going strong into their 60s.
Fairlie warned that this situation is like a ticking time bomb for the prisons. If things don’t change, it could seriously affect how well they can operate.
Looking at the numbers, the Scottish Prison Service has seen a nearly 20,000 rise in absences since 2015. Last year, they recorded over 62,000 sick days, and this year is on track to surpass that.
Scottish Labour and Conservative representatives are calling for immediate action from the government to ensure staff get the support they need. They’re saying that the more staff who are absent, the tougher it gets for those who are still there.
In response, the Scottish Prison Service acknowledged the issue and mentioned they’re working on supporting their staff better. They’ve even partnered with NHS Lothian to promote wellbeing among emergency responders.
It’s a tough situation, and it sounds like there’s a lot of work to be done to make things better for everyone involved.
