Some student nurses and midwives are to be allowed to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they were unable to continue part-time jobs due to public health restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed.
During the early stages of the pandemic, many of the 4,500 students were used as Health Care Assistants during their placements to boost staffing, at a time when admissions were surging, and absenteeism rates were rising due to Covid-19.
However, those with part-time jobs in settings like nursing homes were forced to stop working there due to the fear of cross-infection.