Union bosses have welcomed a decision to add NHS24 staff to the Covid vaccine priority list.
The move follows an announcement last month that Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) control-room staff were in line for an early vaccine.
Unite representatives claim it was their pressure that forced the government’s hand after some NHS 24 staff were initially not included in the priority programme.
Today it was announced that 1650 NHS24 employees will get the jab alongside the 500 SAS workers.
Both groups of control-room staff were initially informed that they were not ‘patient facing’ and did not qualify for the immediate prioritisation of the vaccination programme.
Last month The Record was contacted by a number of NHS24 staff who were furious they weren’t in line for the vaccine while SAS colleagues were prioritised.
One told us: “We share the building with half being NHS 24 and half being SAS. Staff are very upset and feel they are not as valued as the SAS staff.”
Today Unite Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty, welcomed the government’s announcement: “Unite is delighted that due to our pressure the NHS24 workforce will now be prioritised for the vaccination programme.
“This follows a previous u-turn by the Scottish Government over the control room workers at the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Without these workers the nation doesn’t have an effective emergency response service.
“This is a massive relief for the workers at NHS24 and we continue to applaud the dedicated service they provide during these challenging times.”
