NICOLA Sturgeon today announced that NHS and social care workers would be given a one-off payment of £500 as a thank you for working during the pandemic.

The announcement was met with joy from hardworking NHS staff but some were left wondering who was eligible and when would they get it. 

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Who will get the payment? 

A pro-rated payment will be made to all NHS workers employed since March 17, 2020. 

This includes: 

  • Nurses, porters, doctors, primary care staff, homecare workers, care home staff, hospice staff and residential child care staff employed since March 17, 2020
  • Staff who have been active in the NHS since March, 17, 2020 but who have since left the organisation, including retirees
  • Staff who accepted and worked on temporary contracts since March, 17 to aid pandemic response but who have since left NHS employment, including students who worked under temporary contracts but who have since returned to university
  • Staff covered by the Two-Tier Agreement
  • General Practitioners and their practice teams, including 2C practices
  • GP surgery staff
  • NHS Dental surgery staff
  • NHS pharmacy services staff
  • NHS optometry staff
  • GP surgery staff
  • NHS Dental surgery staff
  • NHS pharmacy services staff
  • NHS optometry staff

When will I get the cash?

According to the Scottish government's website, the payment will be made "as soon as is practicable". In her speech at the SNP's party conference today, where the announcement was made, the First Minister said the payment would be made this financial year. 

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The financial year is due to end on April 5, so workers should expect to be paid before that date. 

Anything else I need to know?

The Scottish government expect the scheme to cost around £18 million in total and will see over 300,000 members of staff receive some benefit. 

The total £500 payment will be made to full-time staff and will be pro-rated down for part-time workers.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Sturgeon said: "Back in the spring, at the height of the first wave of Covid, many of us publicly  – and often loudly – showed our appreciation for the work our NHS and social care staff were doing.

“The applause was important, but it was never enough. Our appreciation must be shown in a more tangible way.

“We’re in the early stages of negotiating a new pay deal for NHS Agenda for Change staff for 2021/22. The UK government's public sector pay policy will not make that task easy, but we will do our level best to give NHS staff the pay increase they deserve. However, these negotiations will take time to conclude.

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“Those who have worked in our hospitals and care homes - at the sharpest end of the Covid trauma - deserve recognition now.

“So I can announce today that, on behalf of us all, the Scottish government will give every full-time NHS and social care worker £500 as a one-off thank you payment for their extraordinary service in this toughest of years. Those who work part-time will get a proportionate share.

“The money will be paid in this financial year and it will be separate from any negotiations about pay for the longer term. There are no strings attached.

“Of course, a payment like this can never come close to expressing our full admiration for those who have cared for us so heroically. But to our health and care workers, it is a demonstration of what we collectively owe you - and a heartfelt thank you for the sacrifices you have made.”