Hazard pay for ‘all frontline QEH staff’ – Bostic

Not only doctors but all categories of hospital workers have qualified to receive hazard pay, Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, has declared.

The statement followed the announcement Monday that Government had given the QEH $14 million, $3 million of which was to be used to pay outstanding hazard pay.

During a press briefing, head of the health communication team Ambassador Liz Thompson revealed that doctors would receive the overdue pay.

But at Tuesday’s COVID-19 update, Lt. Col. Bostic said a plethora of people were set to benefit along with doctors.

He told reporters: “Unfortunately I did not listen to the press conference yesterday only because I was really busy in the lab helping to get things right. But this issue of hazard pay, the Ministry of Health has been paying hazard pay since March [2020].

“The QEH had to go through a process to get where they are and this process was approved and funding was approved, but the funding was not approved just for doctors, this is for every category of worker within the hospital situation including all those at the isolation facilities from manager to janitor. It is for all persons, there is no class or anything like that. A hazard is a hazard and a hazard doesn’t stop if you are a doctor, a teacher or anything.

“So all persons who meet the criteria for hazard pay at the QEH will be given that hazard pay. I can give that assurance because I know.”

Ambassador Thompson has revealed that the hazard allowance would also be paid to consultants, EMTs, ancillary staff, paramedics, technical staff, nursing assistants and registered nurses.
(RB)