Time to look after our exhausted NHS staff and care workers

Many of us have friends or family who work in the NHS. We know that they have given their all over the past year. They have worked ridiculous hours and put the good of their patients and our communities above their own health and wellbeing.

Many made the heart-wrenching decision to leave children and other loved ones in the care of their families so they didn’t risk beringing the virus back home, as they battled on the front line of this health crisis.

Hotels and caravan parks opened up to provide safe spaces for health workers to stay, allowing them a place to quarantine after days and nights in the Covid wards.

We’ve seen the pictures of faces rubbed raw by masks and visors, and sore hands aggravated by constant use of the harsh anti-bac gels.

We’ve stood on our doorsteps and clapped, given donations to NHS support charities and all said what an amazing job they are doing.

And we do understand that after such an unprecendented year, our country is facing a very long climb back to recovery and that finances are going to be a huge challenge for many of us as individuals, as well as the companies we work for, and our councils and government.

But surely we should show our thanks to those NHS workers by standing by them now as they seek better pay, so that they can focus on their vital work instad of worrying about paying the bills.

The cost of housing, food and energy continues to go up, even when pay doesn’t.

We can’t allow these dedicated NHS teams to become so disillusioned that they decide to leave the caring profession - a decision that may be all too easy in the midst of so much stress and exhaustion.

Protesters at East Surrey Hospital this week called the one per cent pay rise offer a ‘slap in the face’. If you agree, tell our MPs. And share you views with us by emailing ct.letters@ jpimedia.co.uk