HEALTH chiefs have been urged to invest in counselling for NHS staff after an internal support service at a major health board warned that waiting times had soared to record levels as a result of spiralling demand.

NHS Lothian, the country's second-largest health board, offers confidential counselling to its 24,000 staff to help them deal with personal issues they may be facing at work or in their private lives.

Although it has proved popular and has been credited with driving down rates of sickness absence, an internal report on the service states that it is operating "at capacity" following a significant spike in demand for appointments. Most staff are facing a wait of two months to be seen but the health board has confirmed that no extra funding has been made available this year.

The report, written by the health board's occupational health service and made public through Freedom of Information legislation, also reveals that pressure directly related to work is one of the major reasons for using the service. One in five NHS staff who sought counselling listed "work/academic" as the cause of an issue that contributed to them asking for an appointment, while almost one-quarter listed anxiety and stress. Of those that cited work-related issues, workload was cited as the most common concern.

The document states: "Workplace problems remain a considerable cause for staff referring to the service. In the current climate within NHS Lothian, referral rates have gone up during the reporting year by around 10 per cent. The net result of which is that counselling waiting times are longer than they were in previous years."

Trade Unions praised the service, but called on NHS chiefs to invest in it to ensure staff can be seen quickly. Just five counsellors deliver the service, which saw 457 workers seek help over 12 months, receiving, on average, five appointments each. A maximum of six sessions is usually offered.

The report reveals that in 2010, 10 per cent of workers waited more than two months for an appointment, but last year, the figure had risen to one-quarter. In 2009, 38 per cent of staff received an appointment within a fortnight but by last year, the figure had fallen to eight per cent. Tom Waterson, chairman of Unison Scotland's Health Committee said: "The service is fantastic, the feedback we get from our members is glowing regarding the help they receive and it's extremely important. But it's disappointing if it isn't being resourced adequately and this report suggests they should now be putting more into it.

"It is a concern if people are waiting these lengths of time as this system benefits everyone. We hope they will be putting more money into it and we'll be pushing for that to happen."

One user of the service said: "It would be good if staff can get help quickly instead of waiting for long to get an appointment for the first time."

Another added: "Although I waited a long time for an appointment, I felt the service was very helpful to me and probably would not have returned to work without counsellor's help."

Alan Boyter, director of human resources and organisational development at NHS Lothian, said: "We recognise that the welfare of all our staff is crucial in maintaining an effective and healthy workforce. As a result NHS Lothian operates a successful and confidential staff counselling service.

"Staff who have been involved in a significant adverse event are seen for post-trauma interventions as quickly as possible and we ensure that all other staff members receive an appointment within a month. The service is highly regarded among staff and 95 per cent of clients reported in recent research that they had found the service helpful."