Workers calling in sick at Walsall Council will now have to ring a nurse directly for advice as the authority battles to bring down absence rates.

Council chiefs say a six month pilot scheme in two departments has been a success and will be rolled out across the rest of the authority in the near future.

The Express & Star revealed this week staff sickness cost Walsall Council £1.7 million in lost working days last year.

It is hoped the new reporting system will help further drive down absences, which have already fallen by some 21.5 per cent.

Sandwell Council last month also unveiled plans to make workers call a registered nurse.

In Walsall, staff at the local authority took an average of 10.45 days off ill last year, down from 12.07 in the previous 12 months.

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