Disabled people an ‘ afterthought ’ for government during COVID

Almost 60% of people whose deaths involved COVID-19 between March and July this year were disabled, UNISON’s Disability Live! online conference heard this week. In light of those terrible figures, from the Office of National Statistics, speakers agreed that disabled people were an “afterthought” in the government’s approach to the pandemic. Disability Live! was launched on Monday with a session in which disabled workers from all over the UK joined Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, Vicky Foxcroft, the TUC’s Quinn Roche and UNISON’s Maureen LeMarinel for a discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people. Citing the data on deaths from the Office of National Statistics, Vicky Foxcroft said: “What starker statistic do you need to show that government really have not got things right during this?” She then outlined stark research from Citizens Advice that found 27% of disabled workers are facing redundancy due to COVID. This rises to 48% of those in the “shielded” category. Ms Foxcroft called for the government to urgently put in place financial support for workers who can’t return to the workplace. She said: “Labour would have a different plan if we were in charge. We would not be forcing people back to high-risk workplaces, but would be making sure they have the financial security that they need.” Maureen LeMarinel, an NEC member and former UNSION president, pointed to disabled people who were forced to go to work when it wasn’t ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News Covid-19 disabled members Source Type: news