Lothian MSP calls for Covid-19 to be classed as occupational disease so care staff can seek compensation

Scottish Government urged to press for change

Alison Johnstone raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament

COVID-19 should be classed as an occupational disease so frontline health and care workers are eligible to seek compensation, the Scottish Greens have said.

Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone, the party’s co-leader, said a global debate was under way on compensation for frontline health and care workers and noted that Belgium had already added Covid-19 to its list of proscribed occupational diseases.

And she called on the Scottish Government to seek a similar move.

She said: “Frontline health and care workers have gone to extraordinary lengths to support those whose care they are charged with throughout this crisis, too often without the appropriate personal protective equipment, and with limited access to testing.”

At a virtual question time at Holyrood, Ms Johnstone asked Health Secretary Jeane Freeman how many health and social care workers had contracted Covid-19 and how many had been in hospital or who were recovering at home from moderate to severe effects. But Ms Freeman said she did not have that information.

Ms Johnstone said: “I am alarmed the Cabinet Secretary does not know how many health and care workers have been infected with the virus.

“It’s clear that frontline health and care staff have been exposed to the virus, and it’s likely that a significant number will have contracted it in their workplace.

“I call upon the Scottish Government to seek to have Covid-19 designated as an occupational disease so that these workers can access the support they will need, both in the short and long term, as they recover from this illness.”