The details of the payment of the pandemic special recognition payment announced in January 2022 have finally been published. The HSE has issued HR Circular 12.2022 and an FAQ document detailing how the payment will be made and to whom, which can be found in the Member Updates 2022 section of the Members' Area.
The Department of Health and HSE have insisted throughout all engagements with health unions that the Government announcement did not include the private acute hospitals. The unions in turn outlined that the private hospitals were intrinsically involved throughout the response to the pandemic and accordingly there must be a mechanism in place to ensure that these staff are appropriately recognised.