This time last year, we were in the middle of a winter of discontent in our health service, with nurses taking unprecedented strike action.
Their demand for wage parity with their counterparts in Britain and safe staffing levels in our under-pressure hospitals received broad public support and was seen as a key factor in pushing the parties towards the restoration of the Stormont Executive in January this year.
While the new health minister Robin Swann made swift progress in resolving the industrial dispute, there was an outstanding issue regarding the pay that was lost by those who took part in the strikes.
In May, finance minister Conor Murphy confirmed that £1.6 million had been secured to repay thousands of nurses and healthcare workers who lost three days pay when they took to the picket lines.
However, the reimbursement of wages had stalled while Mr Swann sought legal advice on the issue.
In relative terms, this is not a huge amount of money and if anything the already high standing of NHS staff has risen significantly in the past ten months as they put themselves at serious risk to care for the rest of us during the deadly pandemic.
As we know, the toll on workers over this period has been intense and they are currently battling a second wave of the virus and facing extremely challenging weeks and months ahead.
For them to be told that money was available to reinstate their lost pay only for it to be held back, hardly sends out the right message.
Earlier this week deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill criticised the department of health's response, saying it showed a 'blatant disrespect' to healthcare staff.
However, Mr Swann announced yesterday that a way has now been found around the complexities of this issue and the executive agreed on Tuesday that pay deductions will be reimbursed.
The fact that progress has been made on this matter is very welcome and hopefully the affected workers will receive their payments soon.
But it is regrettable that it has dragged on for so long particularly when we consider the dedication and commitment of frontline staff, many of whom have made considerable personal sacrifices during this pandemic.
We keep telling them they are valued but we also need to show it in practical terms.
