NEARLY one in three NHS employees have had to take time off work with mental health issues in the past year, new research suggests.

The Unison union said its survey of 12,000 health workers shows the impact of a staffing crisis, with many suffering “burnout.”

Panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains and headaches are among the physical signs of stress reported by nurses, porters, 999 call handlers and other NHS staff in the survey.