Trade union representatives for social care workers across Wales have welcomed the introduction of a card which will allow them to access supermarkets during the allocated opening hours for health service staff.

The card, which is being launched for social care workers in Wales today, (Wednesday), identifies them as key workers in fighting the pandemic.

Care workers provide vital hands-on support in our communities for the most vulnerable. UNISON Cymru Wales say throughout the lockdown they have been desperate for fair access to supermarkets and yet they were regularly turned away at supermarket entrances because they were not employed by the NHS.

The trade union says many care workers have difficulty in fitting shopping around often irregular shift patterns and were then faced with long queues outside supermarkets and depleted grocery shelves.

UNISON Cymru Wales conducted a small poll of care workers on a special social media platform it has created to support care workers during the coronavirus. It found during the health worker supermarket opening hours: -

68 per cent of carers who responded were refused access because they did not have an NHS badge

6 per cent only gained entry when they were able to provide additional information.

Mark Turner, UNISON lead officer for social care said: “The determination of all public service workers to go on serving their community during extremely difficult circumstances in the lockdown has been inspiring.

“Care workers and social workers help our health service by ensuring the vulnerable stay safe in their homes. They are angry they have been prevented from accessing the special supermarket opening times.

“Care work must be recognised and fairly valued and the issuing of this card by Social Care Wales is an important first step.

“All key workers, whoever their employer, need to be allowed special access to buy their groceries during the pandemic.”