Commons Sense

Health and social care workers have been at the heart of the fight against coronavirus, working day and night to protect the NHS and save lives. They do so much to make our health service one to be proud of and they deserve our respect, admiration and full support.

From the very beginning of the outbreak, health and social care staff have made great sacrifices to protect us all. As we enter the next stage of the pandemic, with hospital admissions rising, we must ensure mistakes are not repeated and our NHS and care homes are supported with adequate PPE, pay and resources.

In July, the Government announced a pay rise for NHS doctors and dentists. However, the announcement excluded nurses, midwives, hospital porters and other key NHS staff. Many other public sector workers, including those working on the frontline in social care, have also been left out. Ministers have said that decisions on pay for wider NHS staff are not due to be reviewed until 2021 when the current pay deal ends. However, I believe it is important to show our NHS staff the same commitment they have shown our country during this pandemic.

Our key workers have been long undervalued by this Tory Government and dismissed when they speak out. Tories are good at gesture politics, like clapping for carers, but when it comes to paying them a fair, decent wage, they turn their face. The Prime Minister even blamed care workers for the spread of coronavirus, claiming ‘too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures’. At the time, I wrote him a letter, demanding an apology for these comments and highlighting the work of care homes, like REACH in Slough, who’ve worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and were pained by his words.

These dangerous comments were entirely unfair and unjustified, undermining the vital role care workers have played. They should be celebrated, not criticised for their hard work. Yet Boris Johnson has still not issued an apology.

NHS and care staff, many of whom are exhausted and fearing burn-out, have been asked to give so much and too often they get so little in return. This Tory Government should recognise and reward them with a guarantee of a decent pay rise.