STRUGGLE… South West Acute Hospital
TOP doctors at the South West Acute Hospital have received bonuses of over £45,000 each on top of their existing six figure salaries.
The startling revelations are part of the Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme, that was previously temporarily axed, but has been reinstated despite severe NHS cuts.
The news of bonuses for top doctors comes just weeks after staff across the Western Trust took industrial action as a plethora of problems over underpayment arose.
More than 500 consultants across the North receive the taxpayer-funded Clinical Excellence Awards on top of their basic six-figure annual salary, including two based at the Enniskillen hospital.
Professor Mahendra Varma (General Medicine) and Dr Jim Kelly (Geriatric Medicine) both based at the South West received bonuses of £46,644 each, while within the Western Health Trust Dr Maurice O’Kane (Clinical Chemistry), Dr Michael Parker (Obstetrics and Gynae) and Dr Albert McNeill (Cardiology) all received bonuses of £35,484 in figures obtained by the Irish News.
Local councillor and mental health practitioner Raymond Farrell said the figures leave a ‘sour taste’ in some people’s mouths and highlighted the inequality in terms of nurses and other public sector staff who haven’t had a pay rise in a significant period of time.
“It is incumbent on the government to treat public sector employees better. It doesn’t encourage, doesn’t show a lot of respect for staff.”
The financial awards were set up in 2005 to recognise ‘exceptional contributions’ by medics and dentists and if selected the award is received annually until retirement. The award amounts vary from £2,957 at the lower end to £75,796 at the higher end.
There are currently 515 award holders in the North and 61 of those receive the higher award amount, which includes the previously mentioned doctors. Since 2005 more than £60 million has been paid out for clinical awards in the North.
In response to questions from the Fermanagh Herald regarding the bonus scheme a spokesman for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said:
“The Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs) form part of the consultants’ contract and there is a contractual obligation by Trusts to ensure those entitled to pay enhancements are paid in line with nationally agreed terms and conditions. As the employer we will not be commenting on individual’s pay.”
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