HSE instructs ‘top-ups’ for doctors should be stopped

The HSE has instructed that “top-up” allowances being paid to senior doctors in voluntary hospitals in Dublin should be abolished within three months.

The HSE is also understood to have rejected applications by voluntary hospitals and health agencies to continue paying “top-ups” to a number of administrators.

None of the 11 business cases submitted by the St Vincent’s Hospital Group to continue making additional payments on top of salary to senior clinicians were accepted by the HSE as part of its current clampdown on “top-ups”. The group operates St Vincent’s University Hospital in Elm Park and St Michael’s Hospital in Dún Laoghaire.

It is understood the HSE has rejected applications made by the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, to continue making payments over and above the official pay rates to a number of non-medical senior staff. It is believed submissions made by Tallaght hospital to retain additional allowances were also rejected in many cases.

The HSE received more than 202 business cases from voluntary hospitals and health agencies for the continuation of unapproved allowances or to retain payments which were not in line with official pay scales but which may have been sanctioned in the past.

Among the business cases rejected by the HSE’s internal review group were for additional payments made to 10 senior doctors in the St Vincent’s Hospital Group as part of its “consultant-in-management” model. The hospital said this had been in operation since before the HSE was established.

It is understood the rejected business cases related to payments of €19,777 to the chair of the medical board and medical executive, €11,212 to the chair of the surgery subgroup, €16,648 to the honorary secretary of the medical board, €15,040 to the chair of pathology, €15,040 to the chair of radiology,€16,648 to the chair of physicians, €15,040 to the chair of anaesthesia,€13,527 to the intern tutor, €30,080 to the director of the education and research centre and €21,505 in relation to a senior consultant in palliative care.

St James’s Hospital said a reply it received from the HSE regarding business cases submitted in relation to remuneration for some of its personnel is being “carefully considered”.