The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has reaffirmed her request to see the Welsh Government’s £500 social care bonus extended to those working for the nation’s hospices.

Mrs Finch-Saunders has been campaigning to widen the eligibility of the bonus for some time. During a sitting of the Senedd Plenary last week, she asked the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services to urgently raise the issue of extending the payment to hospice workers with the First Minister.

Commenting on the situation, Janet said:

“I urge the Welsh Government to do the right thing and extend the eligibility of the £500 social care bonus to those working in our nation’s hospices, so as to recognise the selfless dedication of staff members.

“I commend the tireless work of our hospice workers throughout the present pandemic period. They are flag bearers for a compassionate country, providing direct care to some of society’s most vulnerable.

“For too long, our hospices have been underfunded by the Welsh Labour Government. It cannot be right that these institutions rely so heavily on public donations as they provide essential palliative care to individuals with terminal and life-limiting conditions. 

 “Vaughan Gething must urgently investigate how his administration can provide the full £500 payment to all support staff who work within our nation’s hospices.”

ENDS