STAFF who work in our local hospitals took less time off due to sickness than other health workers across England.

According to a new report, around one in 25 staff working for the NHS in England (3.98%) were absent due to illness between April and July 2011.

But across the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust – who oversee care at both major hospitals – only 3.86% called in sick.

Across Kirklees, on average only 3.77% of workers called in sick between the three months and in Calderdale only 1.45% were absent due to sickness.

However staff in the Yorkshire and the Humber region were found to have the third highest absence rate in the country – with 4.28% of NHS staff off sick during the three months.

Across the UK, ambulance staff had the highest absence rate of all medical sectors.