NHS and social care staff in Wales to receive one off bonus payment to recognise “extraordinary contribution” during pandemic

NHS and social care staff in Wales are to receive one-off bonus payment to recognise their “extraordinary contribution during the covid-19 pandemic.”

Health minister Vaughan Gething announced the payment today – which will be the equivalent to £735 per person.

The bonus payment will cover the basic rate of tax and national insurance contributions incurred, after deductions most people will receive £500.

It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales including 103,600 social care staff, 90,000 NHS Wales staff, 2,345 deployed students and 26,000 primary care staff (including pharmacy, GP, dental and optometry staff).

Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething said: “Over the last year, Wales’ NHS staff and social care staff have shown a remarkable amount of commitment and courage from the initial outbreak of the pandemic right through to the current second wave.

“They will have suffered the impacts of the pandemic on their physical and mental health wellbeing in both their personal and professional lives.

“This payment expresses our gratitude to our NHS and social care workforce for their extraordinary contribution in keeping Wales safe.”

He added that the bonus is  “not linked to the current issue of NHS pay”.

The Welsh Government is working with local authorities and with trade unions to finalise details of the scheme.

The bonus is further to the £500 special payment for care home and domiciliary care workers announced in May 2020 to recognise their work through the first wave of the pandemic.

This bonus is being made to a wider group of social care workers including local authority social services staff.

GMB union have welcomed the Welsh Governments announcement for the ‘upstanding sense of duty’ that Wales healthcare workers have provided during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Mike Payne, GMB Senior Organiser said:  “This is excellent news, and the least our magnificent Health and Social care workers deserve.

“Their care and commitment over the last 12 months fighting COVID has been exemplary, shouldering the risk without a second’s hesitation and facing up to challenges that could possibly affect them and their families for many years in the future.

“The only human response to that is to reward that upstanding sense of duty and it’s clear that this Welsh Labour government has put its money where its mouth is.

“They’ve shown Health & Social care staff that they’re valued, which is something that the Tories in Westminster could learn from.”