The £500 ‘thank you’ payment promised to all health and social care staff in November is still yet to be paid to personal assistants supporting disabled people.

healthandcare.scot has learned that a payment process is yet to be put in place for this class of workers, who are employed individually by disabled people using direct payments.

Earlier this month the Scottish government said it was still working to address “complex logistical and practical issues”.

The issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament yesterday by newly-elected Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy.

Kevin Stewart, the social care minister, said he had already written to local authorities and health & care partnerships and would continue to do "all that we can" to deliver the payment.

The payment was announced by Nicola Sturgeon at the SNP conference in November 2020 to thank health and care workers for their service during the covid-19 pandemic.

Staff in the care sector faced longer waits to get their bonus, with one of the largest home care providers stepping in to cover the payment itself.

Sheila Cameron, Trustee at the Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network (SPAEN) and a PA employer, said the delays were causing considerable confusion and upset:

“PAs have seen payments being made to other frontline staff and are, legitimately, wondering why the payments have yet to reach them. 

“This is an exceptionally dedicated, hard-working workforce who have placed themselves and their families at the same risk throughout the pandemic.”

Ms Cameron added: “In some cases PAs and PA employers have had to meet the additional costs arising from the pandemic out of their own pockets, so PAs rightly deserve the same plaudits and thanks, and PA employers are keen to see that happening as quickly and smoothly as practicable.”

Colin Millar, Chief Executive Officer at SPAEN, said access to PPE and testing was “sadly lacking” during the early days of the pandemic.

“We need to ensure that, going forward, their value to Scotland and to social care in Scotland is properly represented and recognised,” he said.

“The swift processing of the ‘thank you payment’ would go some way toward recognising their equality as a key part of the social care workforce.

“We appreciate there are logistical considerations in calculating and processing these payments and that Scottish Government officials are doing all they can to work with key stakeholders and service providers to make this happen as a matter of urgency and we warmly welcome this.”

 

Read more: Agency health & care staff left out of £500 bonus; Wales to hand out tax-free covid bonus; Criticism as social care pay rise half that of NHS; Concerns £500 ‘thank you’ bonus will hit benefits

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