Sir, – I would like to thank Noel Whelan (Opinion, November 30th) for highlighting the fact that the HSE was well aware for a considerable time that the executive pay in many health institutions and voluntary bodies was being supplemented.
It begs the question why this was not dealt with before now and in a manner less damaging to service users and the staff members in those organisations who had no awareness that anything was awry.
I work at the bottom of the CRC, on the floor literally, as I am a physiotherapist and spend considerable time on hands and knees helping children with motor problems. I have no idea of what happens at the top but fully believe I am working for an ethical organisation with a humane mission statement and world class clinical standards. With my colleagues I have suffered the pay cuts and changes in work contract experienced by all employees of the HSE. We have had the loss in staff with the recruitment moratorium and were told that the HSE would fine the CRC if it tried to replace jobs. We work hours beyond our pay and do training courses in our own time. We do it because we love the work and build up bonds with our clients and families.
Hence my complete bewilderment to hear the CRC being vilified by the media last week as if it were a corrupt organisation that had misappropriated funds. How must our service users feel? Angry. Distressed. As a staff member I feel a deep sense of shame. Anomalies in pay for executives will be addressed. Whatever the reasons why so few had to be paid so much, this could have been resolved by the HSE without unleashing a public maelstrom of ridicule and distrust affecting the entire organisation with drastic effects on fundraising, staff morale and, most precious of all, client confidence. – Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE McDONAGH,
Priory Avenue,
Stillorgan, Co Dublin.