Review of Irish Civil Service sickness absence referrals 2008–10

Results Three hundred and one cases were available for analysis. There were more long-term sickness absence cases among older employees, with female employees and clerical officer grades more likely to be referred. The principal diagnostic groups were mental health issues (30%), musculoskeletal disorders (13%) and cancer (11%). The eventual outcomes were the following: return to work (83%) and ill-health retirement (8%); 2% were still on sick leave and the remaining 7% had left civil service employment for other reasons at the end of the study period. Conclusions The final outcome in a large majority of case referrals was to resume work, with only a small proportion retiring on ill-health grounds. Mental health disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and cancers were the principal reasons for absence.