HOSPITAL bosses who offered financial incentives to combat Covid-related staff shortages have shut down claims the bonuses were only handed to the top dogs.

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed additional payments were made to some Colchester Hospital workers in December and January.

The cash gesture was established to ensure staffing numbers remained at a safe level during the winter months, which proved even more challenging due to the pandemic.

The incentives, which are said to be common place in the NHS, were given to staff who were happy to move to different wards and clinical areas at very short notice.

Gazette:

Workers who were required to work in “very short-staffed” areas of the hospital were also offered monetary rewards to soften the blow of their increased workload.

Allegations levelled against the trust, however, have suggested the money was only given to high-ranking employees and those who did not have patient-facing roles.

It has also been claimed those who bore the brunt of the virus crisis were overlooked and when they asked about the bonuses they were told there was no such thing.

One source said: “They did not choose to show their appreciation to staff who had their wards turned into Covid wards and had to watch patients dying around them.

“Scandalous is the only word I can think of.”

Kate Read, director of HR and organisational development at the trust, has now moved to set the record straight.

She has also stressed all staff at the trust were offered an extra holiday day or an additional day’s pay in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic.

Gazette:

“We knew there were going to be staffing challenges last winter due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and we offered additional payments for certain shifts to make sure staffing levels were safe in our hospitals,” she said.

“These are not bonuses. However, in line with our incentive policy, we did agree to pay an incentive on some shifts in our urgent and emergency care and critical care areas in December and January to provide and maintain safe patient care.

“Keeping everyone safe in our care is always our top priority."