THE owner of a care provider business in Oswestry has again called for a £500 bonus to paid to carers in England for their work during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Trevor Upshall, who co-owns Allenby Douglas in Church Street with wife Jenny, first made the call for the same bonus to be paid to English carers as their Welsh counterparts in May.

However, no such move has been made to reward English carers – both at home and in homes – for their work during the first lockdown and insists it is not fair that Welsh carers are 'valued' higher than those on the other side of the border.

"I feel that this is most unfair for care staff in England not to receive this," he said.

"It would cost the government a fraction of the monies to pay this bonus compared with the amount that they have already paid out to other firms in furlough monies or subsidies like the cheap meals deal.

"If you are a domiciliary carer working in Wales you are valued more than if you do the same job in England.

"How unfair is that? The £500 bonus which is being paid to our colleagues in Wales will make all English domiciliary carer staff feel even more undervalued.

"We must remember that around the clock our staff have continued to provide high quality care for people who are ill, vulnerable, recently discharged from hospital and for some who are dying.

"Their commitment enables every one of us to choose to remain in our own homes, to receive all the necessary care that we need at times that we require it."

Mr Upshall added that as caring is not an industry that can be carried out 'working from home' and described the conditions workers have been through.

He added: "While many persons were placed on furlough and many others could work from home, companies like ours and other similar companies involved in domiciliary care throughout Shropshire will not receive this bonus.

"We need to remember that all these staff have had to work as normally through the lock down and are still undertaking this work. This entails them wearing personal protection equipment all day, not that great when it is hot.

"These staff may well go to eight or more ill persons in one day and to people who desperately need their help and care. They have not enjoyed being furloughed, or work from home.

"They may not have the luxury of eating out on subsidised meals. It is a disgrace to a nation that alleges to respect and care for those that provide care.

"I urge the government to pay the bonus, treat them fairly and in so doing they will go some way to showing that this silent army of carers are valued.

"Our company did receive monies from the government recently to assist with infection control and that has been of great help, now is the time to help the care staff."