The Department of Health has confirmed they’re aiming to pay out a recognition payment up to £500 for health workers from July.
Health Minister Robin Swann announced the payment at the end of January to recognise the heroic work of health and social care staff in Northern Ireland during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a recent update on the scheme, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said: “Officials are currently finalising the scheme to enable payments as soon as possible.”
They said staff will now be given the opportunity to consider their options and seek independent advice to inform their decision.
Those eligible for the HSC Staff Recognition Payment include:
- All staff working in community pharmacies
- Staff in the independent sector
- Staff in dental practices
- Staff working in opticians
Health workers won’t have to apply for the payment, as it will be processed and paid to all those that meet the eligibility criteria.
Work is currently ongoing to establish the number of eligible staff that meet the criteria.
It’s a non-consolidated payment, meaning it is not pensionable and does not create a new baseline for future pay calculations.
It is also a pro-rata sum with the amount paid to each worker dependent on average hours worked per week, up to the full-time payment of £500.
John-Patrick Clayton, Policy Officer at UNISON, said they appreciate the sentiment behind Minister Swann introducing the payment, but stressed "this is a recognition payment, not a pay rise" and doesn’t go far enough.
He added: “If the Department was trying to make a recognition payment it should have been £500 across the board, that’s not what’s being done.
“In Northern Ireland, there are major issues around recruiting and retaining staff, and if we don’t pay staff decent money, and if we don’t show them they’re valued, particularly now as we come out of the pandemic, that recruitment and retention issue is only going to become more acute.”
UNISON have been publicly campaigning for a £2,000 pay rise to be awarded to all health and social care staff for several months and have stressed that the 1% pay rise proposed at Westminster in March was a “real insult” to workers.
“There’s a disappointed feeling from health workers that the government at Westminster believes the 1% pay increase is sufficient," John-Patrick continued.
He added: “It’s unacceptable given the sacrifices they’ve made and continue to make through the pandemic."
