COVID-19 VACCINATIONS: If, in addition to indemnity for your main employment, you would like cover for delivering COVID-19 Vaccinations please apply for our standalone extension Apply Today

Home  »   Latest News   »   PDA welcome Scottish government’s £500 bonus to pharmacists

PDA welcome Scottish government’s £500 bonus to pharmacists

The Scottish government will give one off payment of £500 to all staff working within the NHS, frontline primary care, adult social care sector, hospice and palliative care & residential childcare in Scotland.

Tue 1st December 2020 The PDA

The Scottish Government chose St Andrews Day to announce their intention to provide a one-off payment from their funding to all staff working within the NHS, frontline primary care, adult social care sector, hospice and palliative care & residential childcare in Scotland.

The PDA welcome this announcement and recognise that for many pharmacists this will be the first financial acknowledgement they have received since the pandemic turned their professional lives upside-down. Jeane Freeman MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport in the Scottish government described this bonus as “A small contribution to recognise the value of these frontline staff to us all.”

The Cabinet Secretary went on to point out that “We don’t have the power to make it tax-free but Boris Johnson does. Time to do the right thing Prime Minister.” Without being drawn into the party politics or relationships between Holyrood and Westminster, the PDA would welcome it if the UK government used their powers over the tax system to make such bonuses tax-free.

The Scottish government have already confirmed that this payment applies to those who were temporary or have since retired, with pro-rata payments for part-timers. This also includes those employed under independent contractor arrangements, however, we are currently unclear if this will include locums and have therefore written to the Cabinet Secretary for clarification.

We have raised with the Cabinet Secretary the valuable contribution of Locums and highlighted that while their contribution may have been spread across multiple pharmacies, overall many locums will certainly have made as much of a contribution to the system’s ability to respond to the pandemic, as those who are already definitely included in the scope of the payment. Locums are undertaking the same roles as employed colleagues and will often be working in pharmacies where a regular employed manager cannot be found.

Read the Scottish Government Announcement here.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England; Company No 4746656.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association is an appointed representative in respect of insurance mediation activities only of
The Pharmacy Insurance Agency Limited which is registered in England and Wales under company number 2591975
and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register No 307063)

The PDA Union is recognised by the Certification Officer as an independent trade union.

Cookie Use

This website uses cookies to help us provide the best user experience. If you continue browsing you are giving your consent to our use of cookies.

General Guidance Resources Surveys PDA Campaigns Regulations Locums Indemnity Arrangements Pre-Regs & Students FAQs Coronavirus (COVID-19)