Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic junior doctors Ibreez Ajaz and Mohammad Ivan have been working in the intensive care unit, doing gruelling 13-hour shifts from 8am to 9pm. At the end of each day they struggled to even find the time to buy groceries.
And so the announcement on Thursday that the government has U-turned and exempted NHS and care workers from the surcharge – which is about to rise from £400 a year to £624 – came as welcome news.
Doctors also welcomed the government’s decision. Dr Rebecca Lewis, of the Doctors‘ Association UK said the organisation was delighted with the U-turn.
‘‘At all times, but especially in the current pandemic, it is absolutely right that health workers who should be exempt from an extra charge to access the health service they contribute so much,” she said.
“We are privileged to have them care for us, and finally this has been recognised. This a welcome decision from Boris Johnson and one we applaud.”
