Poll: Give care staff a cash bonus

MILLIONS of people want brave care home staff rewarded with a Covid-19 cash bonus.

As many as 67 per cent of people aged 55-plus think those who have looked after pensioners in virus-hit homes deserve a windfall.

Overall 55 per cent of the population – 29 million people – believe a bonus should be paid to mark the nation’s appreciation, said the Daily Express poll by Savanta ComRes.

At least 131 social care workers have died of the coronavirus. Many caught it working in care homes which were infected with the virus after elderly patients were discharged from hospital untested.

Chris Thomas, of the IPPR think tank, said: “We have called on government to give all health and care workers a 10 per cent pay bonus.

“This poll shows that the public strongly agree.”

The Welsh Assembly has already offered 64,000 care staff a £500 bonus.