Murdo says he is “alarmed” by new figures highlighting the number of nursery and childminding staff in Fife absent over the last five years due to mental health issues.
Responses to Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Conservatives show that over 8,000 staff across Scotland have been absent in that period. The true figure is likely to be even higher as three councils didn’t respond to the figures, while another failed to provide figures for the 2022/23 financial year.
Overall, the number of absences across Scotland has rocketed by 53% since 2018.
In Fife, there were 63 nursery and childminding staff absent in 2018-19, but by 2022-23, that had increased to 88. Mr Fraser says that the findings come against a backdrop of a childcare crisis in Fife.
He says that the SNP has “neglected” the childcare sector and urged ministers to fully resource services in the Kingdom to ease the pressure on staff who are clearly overwhelmed.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said: “These alarming figures point to a mental health crisis among early years and childcare staff in Fife.
“The rising number of stress-related absences among staff in Fife is extremely grim, but also sadly predictable given the SNP’s unacceptable neglect of the childcare sector in the region. The SNP’s rollout of free childcare has pushed many businesses in Fife to the brink and also resulted in a major exodus of childminders.
“The work that early years and childcare staff in Fife carry out is invaluable and often allows parents to go back to work. That only helps boost the local economy in Fife and supports young families.”
Murdo continued: “It is extremely sad that our childcare staff in Fife are so overwhelmed and demoralised and it is little wonder that we are seeing so many sick days being taken.
“First Minister Humza Yousaf cannot continue to short-change the childcare sector in the region, especially when he’s talking up the provision offered to parents. The SNP must up their game and give overwhelmed childcare staff in Fife the resources they need to support those in their care.”
