Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Monday 3°CTuesday 5°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
CoronavirusDerry CityHealthNews

Durkan calls for NHS staff ‘thank you payment’

written by cassoscoop December 2, 2020
ShareTweet

THE SDLP’s Mark H Durkan has called on Finance Minister Conor Murphy to introduce a one-off ‘thank you’ payment for NHS health and social care staff on the frontline of the pandemic.

The request follows the announcement of a similar scheme as part of the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 support package.

NHS staff in Scotland are to receive a one-off payment of £500.

Said the Foyle MLA: “Our health workers deserve real, tangible and meaningful recognition of their sacrifice throughout this pandemic.

“All the doorstep claps, platitudes and expressions of solidarity do not equate to putting food on the table.

“Many of our health and social care staff have worked themselves to the bone on a daily basis, sacrificing time with their families in order to protect the public.

“Yet their pay does not adequately reflect the invaluable nature of their service.

“Ine financial terms this workforce is among the most undervalued across these islands.

“A thank you payment for all NHS staff inclusive of nurses, care home workers, porters and cleaners, is not just the right thing to do but a necessary token of appreciation.

“Their contribution cannot be defined or limited to their job role – these staff have been care givers, life savers, light bearers in the darkest of times.

They have provided comfort to patients in their dying moments and been a support to many a grieving family.

“We have heard the word superheroes thrown around whenever we speak of our pandemic workforce.

“And while I whole-heartedly agree that our health and social care workers are heroes, we often forget the individual behind the mask.

“The person with a life, a family who is bearing the full brunt of the physical, emotional and financial consequences of Covid-19.

“The Finance Minister alongside his Executive colleagues must put their money where their mouth is and implement this well-earned payment.

“We can never repay the health and social care sector for their service throughout this crisis and I acknowledge there is a way to go as far as providing NHS staff with the pay increase they deserve is concerned.

“But this small token would be a step in the right direction,” added Mr Durkan.

Durkan calls for NHS staff ‘thank you payment’ was last modified: December 2nd, 2020 by cassoscoop
cassoscoop

Tags:
care workerscleanersDOCTORSDurkan calls for NHS staff ‘thank you payment’Finance Minister Conor MurphyFOYLE MLAMark H DurkanNHS health workersnursesSDLP
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

17 more deaths, 422 further cases in...

9 hours ago

Vaccine numbers down as health staff phase...

10 hours ago

Council launches Health and Fitness At Home...

10 hours ago

Council approves funding boost for Covid-hit communities

12 hours ago

McLaughlin: Dodds must stop ignoring financially distressed...

14 hours ago

Cemeteries to remain closed over snow and...

14 hours ago

Eastwood: Polls demonstrate desire for new future

2 days ago

Snow: Road conditions ‘hazardous’ and cemeteries closed

2 days ago

12 more deaths, 670 further cases in...

2 days ago

Coronavirus: Attempts to increase cancer surgeries in...

3 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • DD Travel: Living like a local in Lixouri

    December 17, 2020
  • DD Travel: Kefalonia and her southern shores

    November 29, 2020
  • DD Travel: Kefalonia an Ionian discovery

    November 17, 2020
  • Lurgybrack Open Farm: The perfect place for family fun this Bank Holiday weekend

    July 10, 2019
  • DD Travel feature: Vibrant Verona

    May 2, 2019

Courts

  • Man to face Derry court over church thefts

    January 23, 2021
  • One-handed drunk Derry driver fined and banned

    January 22, 2021
  • Dodgy venison dealer hit with massive £6k fine

    January 21, 2021
  • Two arrested over Derry drugs seizure

    January 19, 2021
  • Kathleen Thompson: Ex-soldier seeks access to inquest evidence

    January 18, 2021

Donegal Daily

  • Breaking: Level 5 until March 5 as new travel measures to be introduced

    1 hour ago
  • Man who assaulted doorman, called Gardaí ‘black and tans’ avoids jail

    3 hours ago
  • Letterkenny Hospital forced to defer outpatient appointments again

    6 hours ago

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
Derry Daily

© 2021 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


Back To Top