Families of care staff who die from coronavirus to get compensation

Families of NHS and social care staff who die from coronavirus will receive a one-off payment of £60,000, ministers have announced.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the scheme will cover full, part-time or locum NHS and public health workers, including GPs, dentists, retired staff and second and final year students taking up paid frontline roles.

Within social care, it will cover employees of publicly funded care homes, home care, directly employed carers including personal assistants and frontline child and family social workers.

Initially, the scheme will cover frontline staff in England.

The Welsh Government has also announced it is implementing the same scheme and arrangements are being considered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

‘Financial worries should be the last thing on the minds of their families so in recognition of these unprecedented circumstances we are expanding financial protection to NHS and social care workers delivering publicly funded care on the frontline,’ said health secretary, Matt Hancock.

‘We will continue to strive night and day to provide them with the support and protection they need and deserve to keep them safe as they work tirelessly to save lives.’

The general secretary of the trade union Unison, Dave Prentis, said it is ‘only right’ the families of all those who worked for the NHS or in social care, and ‘who’ve sadly lost their lives to the virus, are properly provided for’.

‘All the money in the world can’t replace a loved one. Nor can it lessen the deep grief relatives are experiencing,’ added Mr Prentis.

‘But providing financial security for the families of all those who’ve paid the ultimate price for their professionalism and dedication is the very least we can do.

‘At 11am tomorrow (28 April), the nation will take a moment to pay a silent tribute to all workers who’ve lost their lives during the pandemic. Now at least their families won’t be worrying about how to pay for funerals and will have some financial peace of mind,’ said Mr Prentis.

Photo Credit – DarkoStojanovic (Pixabay)