Heroes of the frontline are disrespected – thousands of healthcare workers still waiting on pandemic bonus
HEALTHCARE workers were on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19 — selflessly risking their lives to help others.
The Government announced in January a payment of €1,000 for frontline staff in recognition of their work during the crisis.
But thousands are still waiting to receive their pandemic bonus.
Among them are nursing home and hospice workers, agency staff, employees in long-term residential care facilities, home carers, members of the Defence Forces redeployed to frontline Covid-19 duties for the HSE and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics.
Nursing Homes Ireland and the Alliance of Healthcare Assistants in Ireland have denounced the “unacceptable” delay in the rollout of the Covid-19 payment for frontline healthcare workers who suffered so much during the pandemic.
Today marks eight months since the Government announced the recognition payment for those workers.
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Here, Nursing Homes Ireland and The Alliance of Health Care Assistants highlight how workers in private and voluntary nursing homes and other services that supported our most vulnerable during the pandemic have still to receive their money.
TADHG DALY
Nursing Homes Ireland CEO
IT is unacceptable that we are eight months down the line and the payment to workers who went through so much during Covid-19 has still not been processed.
The latest from the Department of Health after all that time is that now a tender process must be entered into for rollout of the payment.
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The scheme was announced in January. We’re approaching year-end and now they tell us they need to engage in a tender process.
It is incredulous that the State, which holds records regarding every individual’s employment and documented the rollout of the vaccination to 40,000 employees within our sector in a short period, cannot establish a mechanism to rollout the payment with minimum fuss.
It is an insult to staff in nursing homes that the State has procrastinated on this very important matter for people who endured so much for so long during Covid-19.
Staff in nursing homes feel insulted by the extended and unacceptable delay.
DEVALUING ON A DAY-BY-DAY BASIS
So much of the goodwill and gratitude that this payment was meant to signify has been eroded amongst these workers.
It is devaluing on a day-by-day basis, too, given inflation since January.
This amount is designed as a recognition payment in appreciation of the risks our colleagues took for the State in caring for the most vulnerable in the first phase of the pandemic.
I call on the Government without further delay to set a binding date for payment.
It is so disappointing and damning of the State that it has not seen fit to have this payment rolled out for nearly a year after it was announced.
CLARE DOYLE
Alliance of Health Care Assistants
THE Alliance of Health Care Assistants in Ireland (AHCAI) is a representative body for Health Care Assistants.
Similar to Nursing Homes Ireland, it has been in constant contact with the Department of Health since the announcement was made regarding the pandemic payment.
The AHCAI is very much aware there are complexities and processes entailed in the rollout of the payment and we have been very patient and understanding.
However, after eight months of the Department of Health and the HSE working on this project, it is unbelievable that they are still unable to implement a practical plan of action to finalise payments.
VITAL COVID CARE THROUGHOUT PANDEMIC
Our healthcare assistants up and down the country did not dither and were not found wanting when it came to providing care to the most vulnerable in our society when Covid-19 arrived.
They provided vital care day in and day out, then and now, throughout this pandemic
The actions of the State are shocking and unacceptable.
Incredibly, it now appears extra finances will be utilised for a third-party contractor to assist with this payment process.
The unacceptable delay in processing this payment is disheartening to the many who did such valuable work.
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We have pleaded directly with multiple Government Departments to demonstrate authentic recognition to these vital healthcare workers by rolling out the payment and strengthening the role of HCAs within society.
This protracted delay shows disrespect towards the employees and the profession.