Healthcare workers set to receive one-off payments worth up to £3,000

More than 27,000 healthcare workers in England will receive two one-off payments worth up to £3,000, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.

Community nurses, sexual health workers, speech-and-language therapists and physiotherapists are among the staff set to receive between £1,655 and £3,000 in their upcoming pay packets.

The government says the pay award reflects the “vital role” these health workers play in supporting patients and the NHS.

All healthcare workers delivering  NHS care deserve the ‘same treatment’ as other staff

The announcement from the government follows on from a year long campaign led by various charities and unions, such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), who called for these workers to receive the same pay benefits as other NHS staff.

The government initially said healthcare staff working for some charities, local authorities and social enterprises that provide services for the NHS would not receive the payment as they do not work directly for the health service.

However, after unions representing these workers voiced their concerns that thousands of staff members could be left feeling devalued, the government announced it would ‘step in’ to provide the bonus.

These organisations had to apply for the payment, and the government says eligible organisations will be contacted by NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care and will receive funding for these payments over the coming months.

RCN says nursing staff providing publicly funded care must receive the award

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “I hugely value the hard work of all our healthcare staff, and those working in non-NHS organisations offer vital support to patients.

“I want to ensure that eligible staff receive these payments, which is why we chose to deliver this funding and why we have taken the decision to relax the financial eligibility criteria employers must meet.

“It will ensure that hardworking staff and the organisations they work for can fully benefit from the NHS pay deal.”

RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said has welcomed the announcement, describing the move as a “huge leap forward”.

“We will ask for assurance that the financial amounts are worth the same. Nursing staff providing publicly funded care, on whatever contracts, must be paid this award. Waiting for 12 months added insult to injury and the Department must learn never to repeat this,” she said.