Outraged NHS workers at Edinburgh’s largest hospital say they feel ‘insulted’ after bosses offered a paltry £1.20 tea or coffee voucher as a ‘reward’ amid record patient numbers due to Covid-19.
Notices placed in staff areas at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) boast of a “small token of appreciation” for the “incredible work in extremely challenging circumstances” which must be redeemed by the end of March.
It comes weeks after chiefs at Little France were forced to walk back part of initial plans to remove free parking in favour of a park and ride scheme five miles away.
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One staff member told Edinburgh Live how they were “losing the will to work” at the facility, branding the gesture “demoralising and scandalous”.
An email sent to staff on Wednesday - when Scotland's coronavirus hospital patient numbers surpassed 2,250 - read: “Colleagues, I must start by acknowledging and thanking you for the incredible work you do and continue to do in extremely challenging circumstances.
“As a small token of appreciation, vouchers to the value of £1.20 will be distributed from Wednesday this week.
“The voucher can be used in Coffee Club/Link Bridge or Cafe/Canteen towards any item.
“Thank you again for all you do for our patients and for each other.”
The voucher itself features the message "Thank you for all that you do" above a warning it must be used by March 31.
One hospital worker, who asked not to be identified, said: "It is a scandalous offer.
"This amount is obviously nowhere near enough to cover the bus fare expenses as a result of car parking restrictions recently.
"This minuscule amount only made me feel even more demoralised and furious. I'm really losing my will to work in RIE any more."
Nursing staff previously raised concerns over changes to the parking scheme after proposals were put forward for a 'points based' system that would have removed free access for thousands of workers.
Free shuttle services running between Sherriffhall Park and Ride run from 5.45am to 8.30am and from 4.15pm to 8pm, however the timings cut off many frontline staff from utilising them due to exhausting 12-hour shifts.
Instead, they are forced to use Lothian Buses services - which charge £1.80 for a single ticket and added up to 90 minutes to the journey.
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NHS Lothian has now announced the health board would be expanding car park access to all staff arriving on site from 11.30am onwards on a trial basis, while shuttles will run until 9.15pm, however many feel the changes do not go far enough.
Janis Butler, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, NHS Lothian, hailed the voucher scheme as just one way bosses are thanking staff.
She added: "The health and wellbeing of our staff is very important to us, and we are extremely grateful to all of our staff for their continuing hard work and dedication to our patients throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Coffee and tea vouchers are just one example from a range of staff wellbeing initiatives in place across NHS Lothian including psychological support and a peer support service ”
