Sligo General Hospital is once again among the health facilities with the worst record in terms of staff absenteeism.

Data just released by the internal monitoring service of the HSE show that Sligo General is in the bottom five hospitals in the country, in terms of absenteeism.

The latest HealthStat data show an average absentee rate of around 4 per cent for the month of May. However, absentee rates for nursing staff is around 8 per cent, while that for general support staff is around 7 per cent.

The latest figures show a slight improvement in the problem at Sligo General, however. Last year, Sligo General was identified as having the worst staff attendance record in the country. That title has now gone to Ennis General Hospital, which has an average absenteeism rate of more than 9 per cent.

Other hospitals to feature in the worst five in relation to absenteeism include the Midlands Regional Hospital at Portlaoise, Limerick Regional Hospital, and Wexford hospital.

According to the Minister for Health, James Reilly, an absenteeism rate of 4.9 per cent for 2011 cost the taxpayer €225 million. Dr Reilly confirmed that the rate of absenteeism in the HSE in 2012 was marginally higher at 5 per cent.

The HSE target for absenteeism is 3.5 per cent.