GIVE NHS STAFF A PAY
NHS staff should get a pay rise because of their efforts against coronavirus, nearly eight in 10 people believe.
The public are also prepared to pay more taxes to support this – and want a “Remembrance Day” to commemorate everyone who has perished during the pandemic.
The poll, which sheds light on how Britons are coping with the lockdown, found that 78 per cent want doctors, nurses, carers and other health staff to get a raise.
Seven out of 10 people (71 per cent) said they would be willing to pay more in tax to fund this. The 16 hours earlier, the duchess replied: “My goodness, you must be exhausted.”
“Yep, I’m pretty tired now,” the new mum agreed.
Afterwards Rebecca, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said: “Having a baby is an extraordinary experience at any time findings, by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, come as an encouragement to workers on the frontline.
Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “All our health and care staff will be heartened to hear that there is such a huge amount of support from the public for their pay to be increased.
“Nursing staff have always gone above and beyond in the care of their patients.when this is all over,
– but having one during lockdown and then having a surprise conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge after two hours’ sleep was particularly surreal.”
Kate, who has long championed maternal mental health, had arranged the call as part of a fortnight of research into we are sure ministers will listen to the views of the public and pay nurses what they deserve.”
Meanwhile, twothirds of Britons want an annual day to commemorate the victims of Covid-19.
When asked what they missed the most during lockdown, how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the role of midwives and its impact on expectant mums and parents.
She heard how midwives now wear a range of protective equipment depending on the type of work they are doing and that some early appointments are now carried out by phone.
New and expectant mums are not required to wear masks in hospital if they are well, but are no longer allowed to bring siblings to appointments.
But the main concern has been a rise in anxiety and isolation for the mums.
Midwife Jo Doumouchtsi told her:
“The issues that women are having at the moment are around coming into hospital and worries about catching Covid – but also about the isolation after the baby is born.
“They have to self-isolate, so they are having limited support from their other family members.”
The duchess asked: “And are you very aware of a shift in mothers’ emotional and mental wellbeing in comparison to before the pandemic?”
Jo replied: “There is a lot more anxiety, I seeing family came first (69 per cent), ahead of seeing friends (62 per cent), shopping (49 per cent), and travelling to other parts of the UK (46 per cent).
There was also support for football leagues in England and Wales abandoning this season, with nearly half of respondents (47 per cent) saying it should be “completely voided in all competitions, and the next season begin as close to on schedule as possible”.
However, almost a third (32 per cent) of people want the results of this season set by the standings on the last completed match day.
Of the Government’s handling of the crisis, six in 10 people (59 per cent) were “moderately” or “somewhat confident” it had a plan to tackle the outbreak, with nearly two in 10 (17 per cent) “highly confident”. Forty-three per cent thought the PM’S return