A big thank you on Christmas Eve.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (58, SPD) addressed health workers directly in a video message and thanked them for their commitment to the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the ongoing pandemic also means an ongoing burden for you,” said Lauterbach, who is himself a doctor, addressing the health professionals.
“I know what you sacrificed”
“I would like to expressly thank you personally very much for the work you have done. Without this work, we would not be able to meet this challenge, ”the Minister of Health continued.
In his Christmas message, Lauterbach also spoke about the risks of work during the pandemic, the long working days and few free hours with the family: “I know what you have sacrificed.”
The Minister of Health emphasized: “We are deeply indebted to you. We, that is the whole of society, we, of course, that is also the federal government, that is the Ministry of Health, that is the people who have entrusted themselves to you, the people who depend on you. “
It is now “the second Christmas in the pandemic. We had wished it, yes, we had hoped it would turn out differently. But it didn’t turn out that way, ”said Lauterbach.
“As dramatic as the situation was last year in the care facilities in particular, we had the hope that we could get out of the pandemic through the vaccination campaign in the course of the year. Unfortunately, that did not happen, ”said the Minister of Health.
“You deserve respect and admiration and without you the challenges would not be possible,” said Lauterbach.
Lauterbach also exercised self-criticism in his message: “I know exactly how difficult your work is, and I also know what you owe: MORE than what we can currently offer.”
Lauterbach promises to improve working conditions
The extraordinary workload would be perceived by him. “I will do everything I can to improve your working conditions,” the minister announced in his Christmas message.
Ampel Chancellor Olaf Scholz (63, SPD) had already promised a billion euros corona bonus for nurses when the coalition agreement was presented in November. Up to 5000 euros per nurse were in discussion. In a draft law, up to 3000 euros had recently been mentioned.
BUT: The hope of many nurses for a cash injection before Christmas was not fulfilled. The payout is only once postponed to the coming year.
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