Moray's MSP hails £500 bonus for health and social care staff

Richard Lochhead has welcomed the First Minister’s announcement today that frontline health and social care staff will receive a one-off bonus.

Worth up to £500, the cash will more than 300,000 people gain some benefit, including nurses, porters, doctors, homecare workers and staff in primary care, care homes, hospices and residential child care units.

The measure, which will cost about £180 million, is to thank them for their efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Commenting Mr Lochhead said: "Earlier this year, at the height of the first wave of covid-19, many of us publicly showed our appreciation for the work of NHS and social care staff, but that applause was never enough.

"Workers in our hospitals and our social care sector have been at the sharpest end of the covid trauma and they deserve recognition for all they’ve done.

"So I’m delighted that the Scottish Government has committed to giving every full time NHS and social care worker a one-off £500 thank you payment for their service in what has been the most challenging year.

"This payment doesn’t come close to expressing the level of admiration we have for those who care for us each and every day.

"But I hope it shows that the Scottish Government values our health and social care workers, and we recognise the sacrifices that they’ve made."

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