A LEADING care provider in Oswestry is calling on the government to follow the lead of Wales and award bonuses to care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trevor Upshall, who alongside his wife Jenny, runs Allenby Douglas Care Services, in Church Street, has made the call following the Welsh Government’s decision at the start of May to award the funds.

Trevor says he is making the call on behalf of all carers in the town, not just his own, with many in Oswestry considered cross-border workers.

He said: “We have this strange situation that if we have someone from Oswestry but is working up the road in Wales, they’re going to get £500 because they are working, and let’s be honest, putting themselves at risk looking after people.

“If they’re not working over the border, they won’t get it so I think it should be UK-wide.

“I think this is a point that should be considered – the government is paying billions out saying they’re going to furlough people to stay at home and keep a job.

“There are carers who are probably thinking they would quite like to be sat at home.

“But they’re not – they’re turning up and going to work, and all the empathise is on the NHS, who are doing a great job, but it’s almost like the work carers are doing is hardly mentioned.

“These people, and not just our staff at Allenby Douglas, but I’m talking about all the companies in Oswestry who are going out and looking after people in the town and the surrounding areas.

“They’re going out to look after people in their own homes and I think they should get recognition for it. Wales has said that’s right and they’re going to give them £500, and it should be the same for England.

“It would be a recognition because we are reliant at the moment on carers to look after these people.

“It’s saving the country a fortune, and these carers are out at weekends and bank holidays and quite often, they go out on their own to peoples’ houses to look after these very vulnerable people.

“With the coronavirus about, it’s difficult and the bonus would be a recognition.”

Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor John Price has backed the calls for carers to be recognised, having placed care at the heart of his civic year.

“I would love to see some remuneration for carers,” he said.

“I said at the start of my year as mayor that they are unsung heroes, so fingers crossed that something can be done for them.

“They do such a great job and I go to work early on my bus, but I see them out helping others.

“My heart goes out to them and it’s not just that they care, but that they are talking to lonely people and you need a big heart to do that.”