Staff sickness rates that were concerning bosses at Stafford Hospital are gradually being brought down, latest figures have revealed.

Statistics released by the trust that runs the hospital show sickness rates have fallen in each of the last three months for which data is available. Last September, 4.54 per cent of the hospital’s 2,900 workers were off.

Bosses today revealed a stricter policy is driving the reduction in sick days, with staff asked to justify any absence on their return to work.

They have to undergo an interview with their line manager to explain their absence, bosses said.

Tight controls over the use of costly agency workers are also taking effect, with the number of requested shifts falling from 1,562 in September to 1,283 in October.

The figures are revealed in a report prepared for councillors.

It states: “Sickness absence decreased slightly in September and this represents the third consecutive month where it has fallen.

“It is expected that the moving annual average for sickness absence will start to decrease from October data onwards. It will continue to be contingent on consistent management application of policy, in particular conducting return to work interviews on every occasion of sickness absence.”

Human resources interim director Graham Shaw said: “We introduced a revised sickness absence policy in September 2011 with tighter trigger points to allow earlier support of staff from managers, which we hope will assist in achieving a reduction. This is consistently found to be an effective way of reducing sickness. We will be auditing this during January.”

The hospital’s accident and emergency department is currently closed overnight due to a severe lack of staff.

The unit was found to be dangerous during the damning investigation into the hospital’s high death rates and poor care.