Limerick healthcare workers express frustration over delay in €1,000 Covid payment

FRUSTRATION is mounting for some current and former local healthcare workers who claim they are still waiting for their Covid bonus payment (PSRP).

They are entitled to the payment for working on the frontline during the pandemic.

The payment, announced a year ago, opened for applications last year, with some applications needing additional information, prompting a reapplication process in February 2023.

After the announcement, the payments for employees of non-HSE and non-Section 38 organisations were outsourced to Kosi Corporation, based in Newry.

According to a former non-HSE, Castletroy healthcare worker, who spoke with the Limerick Leader, their payment, and many of their colleagues’ payments have not yet been received, and no timeframe for payment has been given.

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Another former non-HSE Newcastle West physiotherapist, who spoke with the Leader, has yet to receive their payment after working during the Covid period.

On the delays, they have been repeatedly told by their former employers that Kosi are responsible for payments.

At time of publication, neither of the local companies had responded to queries.

According to Kosi, “employers are required to make PSRP payments to employees within 30 days.”

Roll out of the payments have started by the HSE, with a spokesperson saying, “a total of €56.02m has been paid to 61,074 employees.”

This includes 5,093 serving and former members of staff at UL Hospitals Group, said a ULHG spokesperson.