NHS staff in East no longer entitled to pandemic-level support
The Department of Health saying it's time to move back to 'normal' arrangements- now the height of the pandemic has seemingly passed
NHS staff across the East who get Covid from today onwards, will no longer be entitled to previous sick pay or special leave to self-isolate
With the Department of Health saying it's time to move back to 'normal' arrangements- now the height of the pandemic has seemingly passed.
But the number of people in hospital in England who have tested positive for Covid-19 continues to remain high.
Nationally, the number has climbed above 10,000 for the first time since April, reaching 10,658 on July 4- this being up 36% week on week.
"There's a real picture of concern across NHS services"
Teresa Budrey, our regional director at the Royal College of Nursing says now's the worst time to take this away:
"Covid-19 hasn't gone away and in-fact we're riding a higher wave across many of the areas in the East of England. We know that nursing staff continue to be dis-proportionally affected by the virus- as they deliver face to face care to patient and they risk that higher rate of exposure.
"NHS pay is barely enough to make ends meat and our nurses are feeling the pinch around mileage for those in the community, delivering care to patients as well as those that need to use a car to get to work. In addition to this, we are seeing NHS Trusts having food-banks on their premises. There's a real picture of concern across NHS services in terms of where we are."
"Higher rates of Covid increasingly cause anxiety"
She told us her colleagues are continually worn down and under-pressure:
"Nurses across the region are saying to us that they have given their all during the pandemic. They are tired and are helping their NHS organisations recover in terms of surgery numbers and the amount of patients that are waiting for treatment. They are incredibly busy and higher rates of Covid increasingly cause anxiety".
"There are so many staff still suffering from long-Covid symptoms and this supportive measure was helping them to recover. That's what's going to be missing within this- they will feel the pressure to return to work, when they are not fully recovered".
"It appears they are heroes no longer and are being abandoned by governments"
A statement from campaign and advocacy group Long Covid Nurses and Midwives UK (LCNM), chaired by Dr Alison Twycross, said:
The move was considered "a slap in the face" by "those people who worked selflessly on the front line throughout the pandemic".
The statement said: "These changes take away the financial security for thousands of NHS staff with long Covid.
"Nurses and midwives, along with other NHS staff, stepped up throughout the pandemic often without adequate PPE, putting themselves and their family at risk.
"The cost of doing so has been huge, particularly for those healthcare staff who now have long Covid.
"During the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic NHS staff were hailed as heroes and clapped every Thursday evening - however, it appears they are heroes no longer and are being abandoned by governments across Great Britain."
What has the Government had to say on this?
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said:
"As we learn to live with Covid, we are withdrawing the temporary NHS staff sickness guidance that was put in place at the height of the pandemic, as part of plans to move back to the normal arrangements set out in the NHS terms and conditions. This provides generous support for NHS staff with up to six months full pay and six months half pay, depending on length of service."