GWENT Police may pay for some of its officers to have private medical treatment in a bid to reduce sick leave.

The force has the second highest sick leave problem of the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

Last year it lost an average of 15.4 days per officer to illness, a total of 19,569 days. In his annual report, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir David O'Dowd, said specific local conditions had a bearing on levels of sickness leave.

He said: "In Gwent, for example, the average waiting time for initial NHS assessment of back and joint complaints - some of the most common causes of police absence - is around two years.

"As well as undertaking a fundamental review of all sickness management processes, Gwent is seeking to short cut such NHS delays through funding private medical treatment where appropriate, and increased use of its occupational health unit."

A Gwent spokeswoman said: "It is true we are looking at funding privately where appropriate for some officers on long-term sick leave."

According to Sir David's report, sickness levels across England and Wales rose to 12.2 days per officer in 2000/2001 from 11.6 days the previous year.

That equates to about an extra 6,400 officers, more than the combined strength of the Kent and Essex forces.

About two thirds of all the days lost were accounted for by long-term sick leave - absences of more than 28 days.

Sir David said it was "disappointing" that despite sustained efforts and significant progress by some forces, little impact had been made on national totals.

Alan Howarth, MP for Newport East, said it was important not to differentiate between the waiting time for police officers and other members of the public. He said: "I'm sometimes shocked by the length of time it takes for my constituents to get medical treatment - particularly for back and joint complaints.

"It remains to be seen how the National Health Service is going to deliver acceptable ways to work with the private sector where it may be possible for the private sector to take some of the strain."

PICTURED: Gwent's chief constable Keith Turner.