Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has criticised the HSE for suggesting its staff would face delays in the payment of expenses for travel and subsistence, due next month as a result of the health executive’s financial difficulties.
Speaking this morning Mr Howlin said “every State agency has to pay its way” and that living within its budget “doesn’t mean you don’t pay your bills”.
“One of the big deficiencies in our economy right now is the lack of spend and the notion that people who have earned money or expenses that they are entitled to wouldn’t get it aggravates that problem and I’m sure the minister [for health] will be having discussions with the HSE on that matter.”
Mr Howlin also said he has had concerns about the operation of the HSE from “the minute he went into his department. I think it is structured badly and over-bureaucratic,” he added.
Last night the HSE told trade unions that the payment of certain types of expenses which were incurred in October and November and not yet claimed would be deferred until early in the new year. It said the move would save €15 million.
The plan, which has angered unions, was also criticised last night by the Minister for Health James Reilly. “I don’t approve of this. I have asked people to stay within budget. I have asked hospitals and the HSE to stay within budget but I expect them to pay their bills," Dr Reilly said on
RTÉ's Prime Time. "Staying in budget doesn't mean that you don't pay people the money you owe ... It doesn't mean for hospitals that they don't pay their suppliers or their staff".
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organsiation (INMO) and the trade union Impact this morning called on the HSE to shelve its plans to defer the payment of expenses due to staff until the New Year.
The INMO said the move by the HSE represented ta breach of the employment contract of staff and of the Croke Park agreement.
The nursing union said the HSE move was unacceptable and was just the most recent example of the HSE’s approach to agreements.
“It is further confirmation that they simply do not understand the stresses community based staff are under, as workers and citizens, while they strive to provide essential services in the community.”
“The INMO has over 2,500 members, working in the community, who, every day, call to people’s homes providing care that keeps people independent and out of hospital. It is a requirement for these members, to have a motor car to perform their duties. The HSE must meet its contractual obligations with regard to covering the costs incurred by these staff who are not high earning public servants.”
Impact said reimbursement of travel costs – which were recently cut by 25 per cent - was not a staff benefit. It said rather it was reimbursement for petrol and other costs incurred by staff who use their own cars, or public transport, to deliver personal services or enforce public health protections in rural and urban communities.
Impact national secretary Louise O’Donnell said: “The extraordinary announcement that the HSE is not going to cover transport costs for the delivery of services puts personal services to vulnerable individuals at risk, especially in rural areas. It means staff will be confined to base while people wait in vain for services.”
In a letter to trade unions the HSE’s human resources section said it had been directed by the organisation’s head of finance that staff travelling expenses that fall due for payment in December should be deferred until January 2012 at the earliest. “This decision arises because of the current state of HSE finances as we approach the end of the current financial year.”
The letter, which was sent on behalf of the health authority’s head of corporate employee relations, Brian Kirwan, said the HSE was available for discussions on the matter, if required.
The HSE said it had decided to defer the payment of staff travel and subsistence claims until January, given its financial position. “Staff will be paid for their travel and mileage claims in January”.
The HSE is facing a potential €300 million deficit by the end of the year.
Fianna Fáil
called on the HSE to pay immediately any outstanding expenses due to its staff.
Health spokesman Billy Kelleher also challenged Dr Reilly to “back up his claims” that he does not approve of the “unacceptable” decision.
“Minister James Reilly's handwringing and complaints are difficult to accept when you consider that he fired the board of the HSE and took personal control of its operation as far back as April. Having taken direct control, it is time that he used it and instructed the HSE to pay workers what they are owed.”
Siptu said the HSE proposal to defer the payment of travelling expenses was “unacceptable”. It has sought an urgent meeting and urged the HSE to withdraw the proposal. Impact also said it would be seeking talks on the issue.
Siptu’s health division organiser Paul Bell said staff who were contractually obliged to work in the community would be particularly hit by the move.
“We have members in home help services who are dependent on being reimbursed for their expense on petrol and diesel and many of these community carers work in rural areas. “We also have nurses and other health professionals in multidisciplinary teams travelling to sick and vulnerable people in the community.
“The decision of the HSE today can only be interpreted as health workers being instructed to bankroll the HSE and this decision is not acceptable by our members and will be resisted.”