A POLL has revealed seven out of ten healthcare workers believe ministers have failed to protect them from Covid-19.<\/p>\n
The YouGov research also found the pandemic has led to one in five of the vital staff in Scotland and the rest of the UK more likely to quit their job.<\/p>\n
In a separate poll the general public called for a new Bank Holiday \u201cto celebrate the debt we owe health and care workers\u201d and to build on the momentum of ‘clap for carers’ with two-thirds of people showing support.<\/p>\n
The findings for the Institute for Public Policy Research comes amid anger over low numbers of health and care workers being tested for coronavirus and shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).<\/p>\n
It found 70 per cent of staff believe government has not done enough to \u201cprevent and test for\u201d the virus among the workforce, compared to just 24 per cent who think enough has been done.<\/p>\n
The poll \u2014 of GPs, NHS staff, and agency workers \u2014 revealed 51 per cent of healthcare staff in Scotland said their mental health had deteriorated since the Covid-19 crisis began, and 44 per cent believe government has not done enough to protect their mental health needs.<\/p>\n
Just 32 per cent said that enough has been done.<\/p>\n
In a report accompanying the findings \u2014 called Care Fit for Carers \u2014 the think-tank is calling for a Covid-19 pay bonus of 10 per cent for all workers in health and care for 2020\/21.<\/p>\n
Russell Gunson, IPPR Scotland director, said: \u201cIf fighting coronavirus is like fighting a war then we must make sure we recognise our heroes this time round.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in tokens of appreciation but in real recognition that improves the lives of health and care workers across Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need protection for physical and mental health now, but we need to make sure we provide the pay increases and general recognition across health and care that will show we really understand how important our key workers are to all of our everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the poll did not specifically reference the Scottish Government, health and care are issues devolved to Holyrood.<\/p>\n
Mr Gunson added: \u201cThe Scottish Government has done well to increase testing capacity in the most extreme of circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this progress is clearly not being felt by some frontline healthcare workers, so we need to do more to get the tests to the workers who need them.<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding home and mobile testing must be a priority over the coming days and weeks so that care workers who need to be tested can be, even if they don\u2019t have access to a car or public transport.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if the outbreak made them more likely to want to leave the health and care sector, 20 per cent of respondents said \u201cmore likely to want to leave\u201d, 15 per cent said \u201cmore likely to want to stay\u201d while 61 per cent said it made \u201cno difference\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a separate YouGov poll of the general public for the IPPR, 96 per cent agreed the government should introduce more support for healthcare workers\u2019 physical and mental health.<\/p>\n
And 88 per cent were in favour of more generous pay and leave entitlements.<\/p>\n
The IPPR\u2019s other policy asks include bringing social care workers onto NHS pay scales to offer wage increases and career opportunities.<\/p>\n
Chris Thomas, IPPR Health Research Fellow and lead author of the report, said: \u201cOur care heroes are making significant sacrifices to pull our country through the crisis.<\/p>\n
“No one should have to put their health at risk because PPE is lacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one should face a mental health crisis because no support was there. And no one should face financial destitution while responding to this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Scottish Government said \u201cmassive strides have been made in securing PPE and expanding testing\u201d since the poll was conducted two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A POLL has revealed seven out of ten healthcare workers believe ministers have failed to protect them from Covid-19. The YouGov research also found the pandemic has led to one in five of the vital staff in Scotland and the rest of the UK more likely to quit their job. In a separate poll the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4002,"featured_media":2504303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[500011],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n