A dedicated sick pay scheme for people suffering from the effects of “long Covid” is due to end in two weeks’ time in a move which will affect around 120 healthcare workers.

In July 2022 the Government introduced a temporary scheme to provide special leave with pay for eligible staff suffering with the symptoms of long Covid, such as fatigue and exhaustion. While the scheme was previously extended following approval by the Department of Public Expenditure, it will now end on March 31st. The Department of Public Expenditure has told the Department of Health that no further extensions will be granted.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said any employee in the public health sector who remains unwell after the end of this month can seek support from the public service sick leave scheme. That scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months. After this workers can apply for temporary rehabilitative remuneration which, if granted, could provide up to a further 547 days of paid leave.

The Department of Health said that around 118 public health service employees will be affected by the decision to end the scheme, and said they will have received an individual notification of this from their employer in recent weeks.