Esther McVey is urging Government to compensate care home workers across Tatton who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic but were sacked for not being vaccinated – as it U-turns on mandatory vaccinations.
Local NHS workers faced the same fate but were offered a last minute reprieve earlier this week after Government announced it was consulting with NHS Trusts over whether to scrap the requirement for staff to be double jabbed by April 1. It means no NHS worker currently unvaccinated will need to have a first dose by February 3.
The Tatton MP, who opposes mandatory vaccinations said care workers who were forced out of their jobs late last year must now be compensated.
She said: “My local care workers, along with Tatton’s NHS staff worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic only to be thanked with the sack because they chose not to get vaccinated. For our care workers they have already lost their jobs, for NHS staff they have had that threat hanging over them. If Government is now saying these rules could be revoked it is only right that we support care workers who lost the job they loved overnight as well as their income. We need these people back in our care sector and we need to do the right thing and show we value the work they do.”
Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms McVey re-iterated her call for assurances that mandatory vaccinations for current NHS staff will be abandoned.
She added: “Will the Prime Minister also make it clear this is true for care workers as well, many of whom have already lost their jobs. What support will Government be giving to get those care workers back into the care sector and will those who have lost their jobs get compensation?”
Boris Johnson said vaccines remained the best line of defence against Covid and urged people to get vaccinated. However, he added given the difference in variants and how the situation has changed since the initial policy, it was right it was being re-examined.
He added: “The Health Secretary has said we will launch a consultation and subject to the responses and the will of this House the Government will revoke the regulations.”
A short two-week consultation with NHS Trusts will now go ahead before MPs are asked to vote again on the issue. MPs must vote again on the issue if they wish to change the decision, given it is already law.
Ms McVey said: “I am asking the Health Secretary Sajid Javid why there is a need for a consultation. What workers need is certainty and to know their jobs are safe.
“I will keep pushing the issue of care workers as it is utterly wrong, they were treated like this.”