Calls grow for COVID-19 ‘surge’ payments to be extended in hospitals

It would be “madness” for payments aimed at encouraging health care workers to take on extra shifts to deal with Victoria’s COVID-19 surge to stop now, according to the acting President of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

The surge payments were introduced last October as an incentive for nurses and paramedics to work in high-risk coronavirus settings.

They’re scheduled to stop next month.

“It would be madness for an allowance that is specifically to address the surge in coronavirus cases in the health system to stop in the peak of the surge,” Paul Gilbert told 3AW Drive.

“It absolutely has to continue.”

Press PLAY below to hear him discuss the stresses being placed on health care workers

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