Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that healthcare staff and nurses who have long covid get the same employment protections and financial help for the duration of their illness as people subject to the NHS agenda for change.

The Department does not plan to bring forward legislative proposals specific to one group of staff. Statutory employment protections and statutory financial support applies to all eligible individuals.

The majority of healthcare staff and nurses are employed on national Terms and Conditions, including Agenda for Change which contains sick pay and additional contractual provisions regarding the management of long-term sickness. Employers should develop local policies and procedures regarding long-term sickness, in line with Annex 26 of the national Terms and Conditions.