An NHS frontline worker on holiday in Spain has slammed the government over its lack of quarantine sick pay to travellers returning from the country.
Nicola Ley, 35, her husband Karl, 38, and they children had flown the Mijas hills in southern Spain for a much-needed break after months of Nicola's gruelling 45-hour weeks throughout the pandemic
But within hours of landing they heard the news that the UK government had done a U-turn on the travel rules - meaning they would need to quarantine for 14 days on their return.
Nicola said they are now worried about the lack of pay during their quarantine and their spending while on holiday.
She said: "We don’t want to spend any money now because we’ve lost the next two weeks at our jobs.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with me for work, if they’re going to make me take leave or holiday and you’ve got that hanging over you.”
Nicola said it was "illogical" that the government gave Brits two weeks' notice to wear a mask in shops, but imposed the new rules on travellers to Spain immediately.
She also said the area where they have chosen to stay is in a remote area of the Spanish hills, with very few coronavirus cases.
She told the Sun : “It’s like closing down England because there has been an outbreak in Devon. It doesn’t make any sense."
Nicola works as a receptionist on an urgent treatment ward, while her husband is a professional carpet cleaner - meaning neither would be able to work from home upon their return to the UK.
While Brits will be denied sick pay, the government has said they may be able to claim £74.35-a-week in Universal Credit.
Thousands of Brits are facing similar dilemmas - with some choosing to cut their trip short after just 24 hours.
One couple told how they spent £1,200 on a holiday to Spain only to fly back to the UK within 24 hours.
Dr Andras Szigeti, from Chelmsford, had flown to Malaga on Saturday with his partner - paying £600 each for the return flights.
But amid growing confusion around the government's change of quarantine rules for those entering the UK from Spain, they decided to head home after just one day.
Dr Andras Szigeti explained how they were too worried about facing two weeks of quarantine and it's affect on the family budget.
But they were then given the devastating news that they could have stayed in Spain as Andras is a key worker.
Dr Andras Szigetit old BBC Breakfast: "We flew to Malaga on Saturday and flew back yesterday.
"It was fantastic for the 24 hours, but we returned because we decided 14 days in quarantine would have been an absolute kick to the family budget.
"But yesterday we got the news that because I am a health worker and don't have to quarantine so it turned out we could have had our holiday."
Dr Szigeti told BBC Breakfast he was "devastated" at missing out on their 10 day trip and "feel a little but let down by the government" over the confusion.
