Kick in the teeth for NHS heroes

■ WHERE are the pay rises for nurses, paramedics, porters, cleaners? To leave these front-line heroes off the list is insulting and makes Clap for Carers look like an empty gesture. They have to wait for a pay review in April, but Rishi Sunak has already warned of restraint over future public wages.

No new cash for departments that will have to fend for themselves. Money should have been ring-fenced to reward all front-line staff at the same time.

Amanda Brown, Norfolk

■ What a way to run a government. Penalise the very people you’re going to be begging to get us through the second wave of Covid19. Only a money-grabbing Tory government would be so callous, clapping in adoration one day and stabbing them in the back the next. Michael Elias, Carmarthen

■ It seems the ones who put their lives on the line and worked endlessly to look after the gravely ill don’t matter. It’s evident our Government does not give a toss about nurses, paramedics, carers and the other key workers that have kept us going through this crisis. Where is the true gesture of thanks? Not in a clap, it must be in a substantial pay rise.

T Bailey, Brighton

■ So many key workers had the stiff upper lip approach – grinned and beared it. They have kept this country going and now the Government thinks it’s OK to ignore their sacrifice? It is absolutely disgusting. People have been furloughed for months, getting paid while key workers are wearing themselves out. No extra pay, no extra rest, nothing.

The next pandemic that hits this country may be the end of us because next time, you might find key workers protect themselves first. And who could blame them? Carol Hutchinson, Derbyshire

■ Where were the ministers and aides when our NHS staff were risking their lives? Gallivanting about the country and visiting castles, or pretending to be grateful for our nurses as they clapped for them on the streets. Care staff have been stabbed in the back.

This Government has got a lot to answer for, shame on them all. Wendy Walker, Middlesbrough

■ The big lie was the clap. The NHS had to work through this pandemic with no reward, just a clap, while others got paid to stay at home. Nurses, porters, proper frontline staff, put their lives in danger. I work in the NHS and many colleagues were convinced we would get something. Our pay has been frozen with minimal rises for 10 years. I’m ashamed of this Government.

T Straker, West Mids

■ Not only did nurses do their jobs, they went way above the call of duty. They worked all hours, sacrificed being with their own families for days, weeks and even months. They absolutely deserve a pay rise right now. How dare this Government deny them this? Janice Greatbanks, Manchester

■ Pay rises for MPs should be frozen indefinitely. Nurses and carers should be put at the top of the list. Yes, doctors deserve a rise, but they couldn’t function without nurses. The Government clapped the NHS yet ignored the dedication of these wonderful people when handing out pay rises. No other profession has sacrificed so much during this pandemic – they are the true heroes and need to be treated as such.

S Hanna, Belfast