Leisure discount for NHS workers

Leisure discount for NHS workers

30 June 2021

NHS workers will soon be able to use council sports and leisure facilities at half price.

The gesture comes as a thank you for their contribution during the Covid pandemic.

The discount will be for 12 months and applies to the Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s monthly corporate membership for use of facilities such as Down Leisure Centre, Ballymote Sports and Wellbeing Centre and the Newcastle Centre.

Independent councillor Glyn Hanna was successful in his notice of motion presented to the council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve an extra 25% discount to NHS staff on top of the 25% they already receive as corporate members.

Cllr Hanna told members: “I have brought this motion to council to give all the councillors the opportunity to express their gratitude, in a practical way, to all NHS staff who stepped up to the mark when this pandemic started in March 2020. 

“At the start of Covid-19, no health worker in the NHS understood what the risks were, which they were facing. What we did know was Covid-19 was deadly, no one knew how to treat this disease and how bad it was to become.

“Our NHS staff stepped forward to deliver care to the sick and dying, with very poor PPE and at times little or no PPE. The nurses, doctors and all the NHS staff put caring of patients before their own personal safety in many cases. 

“Many retired nurses and doctors and other nursing people who had changed career came back to deliver high quality health care to those victims of Covid-19 who were ill. I am deeply grateful to all in the NHS staff who courageously delivered care to the sick and dying.”

The councillor stressed the point that NHS workers need to look after their own health and fitness and how their own physical and mental health suffered as they looked after others during the pandemic.

He added: “A lot of NHS staff are on low wages, none more than the nurses, where many are on less than £12 per hour, and please do not forget many student nurses who were in the front line and getting no pay at all.”

In calling for support for this motion, he said: “I know there will be a cost to council to deliver these discounts to NHS staff, but if we don’t value health care and those who deliver this service we will not be living up to our responsibilities.”

His former DUP colleague, Cllr Billy Walker from Rowallane DEA, proposed the motion, which was seconded by Downpatrick councillor Gareth Sharvin.

Cllr Walker paid tribute to Cllr Hanna for bringing forward the motion.

“By agreeing to this motion tonight we are Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are saying a big thank-you to all our all NHS staff.

“They went the extra mile during the Covid pandemic and we have seen the excellent way they are dealing with vaccinations where we are way ahead of the field on that.”

He recalled a recent motion, also brought forward by Cllr Hanna, where the council wrote to the Health Minister to pay NHS staff a £500 payment.

Sinn Fein Councillor Barra Ó Muirí supported the motion on behalf of his party members.

He added: “I congratulate Cllr Hanna on what he has put forward, I couldn’t have put it better myself. We all of us should tip our hats to NHS staff for going above and beyond.

“I’m totally in awe of the frontline workers for what they did in the pandemic and there’s no words that we can offer for the sacrifices they made. I think this a lovely gesture.”

Cllr Sharvin said: “I think this is something that the council should be doing to recognise their contribution, not just for last year. It’s a small token of our thanks to them and the SDLP is more than happy to support it.”

Cllr Andrew McMurray supported the motion on behalf of the Alliance Party and added: “It’s been often said that the best way to fight this pandemic is through good physical health so I think it’s a perfect token of thanks.”

Supporting the motion on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, Cllr Alan Lewis said: “Sometimes in the council we recognise things by putting out statements or badges and plaques but this is a very good practical thing we can do to show our token of thanks.”

The motion will go forward to the next full council meeting for ratification.