Scarborough and Filey MPs call for more to be done to help care home workers who catch coronavirus
More needs to be done to help care home workers who catch coronavirus, says Scarborough’s MP.
Robert Goodwill says he has contacted Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock about trying to support those who look after some of the area’s most vulnerable if they contract the disease.
Some care homes only offer statutory sick pay - which equates to £94 per week - if their staff are ill.
The GMB Union is calling for all care providers to give full pay for all staff if they fall sick during the pandemic.
Mr Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said: “If someone has contracted coronavirus they can not come into work so there needs to be a situation where they do not lose out for doing the right thing.
“I have been in touch with Matt Hancock about this. We need to see what we can do.”
He added that making testing for coronavirus more widely available should also be a priority.
Filey’s MP Kevin Hollinrake said he has raised the issue with health ministers previously.
He said care home bosses have the responsibility for what sick pay they offer, and some will be paying more than is statutory.
“I would encourage care homes to look at this and to be as generous as they can,” he said.
The NHS is advising anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus to self-isolate for seven days.
Anyone who lives with someone who has symptoms should self-isolate for 14 days.
If you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to stay off work from the NHS’s website.
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.