HSE approves €70,000 bonus for Brendan Drumm -but no extra specialist for sick kids

[neutral_lurker]

Incompetence Rewarded Again!!!!

HSE approves €70,000 bonus for Brendan Drumm

The board of the HSE has reportedly approved a €70,000 bonus for its chief executive, Brendan Drumm.

Reports this morning say the bonus relates to Mr Drumm's work in 2007, but the decision on whether to approve it was postponed a number of times.

The board reportedly agreed to award the bonus during the summer, but this morning's reports say the money has still not been drawn down.

The news comes as the HSE continues a major cost-cutting programme aimed at reducing its spending by €1.2bn next year.

The cuts have led to the closure of hospital beds, the laying off of temporary staff and the non-replacement of employees who leave the health service.

The HSE is also considering cutting allowances for staff members.


Read more: HSE approves ?70,000 bonus for Brendan Drumm | BreakingNews.ie

meanwhile

Just one specialist for 1,000 children with arthritis
Read more: Just one specialist for 1,000 children with arthritis | Irish Examiner

THE health service has just one paediatric rheumatologist to treat a potentially crippling condition that affects up to 1,000 children, resulting in delayed appointments and poor outcomes for many.



Because of the shortage of specialists, children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis wait up to 13 months to be seen even though international best practice recommends they be seen within six weeks of onset of symptoms.

The result is many endure chronic pain and long-term joint damage, according to Dr Orla Killeen, the country’s only paediatric rheumatologist, who also practises general paediatrics at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

"My clinics are chaotic. I have between 700 and 800 children attending outpatients on an annual basis in addition to inpatients. If their treatment is aggressive from the onset of symptoms, the prognosis is good.

"If left untreated, it can lead to permanent muscle wastage, joint damage and deformity and causes intense pain for children," said Dr Killeen.

Dr Killeen said while she "never wanted to get to the stage" where she had to close her appointment book, they were struggling to cope with the number of referrals in the face of a diminished multidisciplinary team.

"We are completely under-resourced. Our nurse specialist is sponsored by a drug company and that funding runs out in April. Our physiotherapist is on maternity leave and full-time cover for that post is only guaranteed until Christmas," Dr Killeen said.

Ireland has the second lowest ratio of paediatric rheumatologists per head of population in Europe (only Poland is lower) and despite a series of reports since 2002 recommending additional appointments, none have been made. Dr Killeen said it was not the case that there was a shortage of paediatric rheumatologists.

Her comments coincide with National Arthritis Week, an event organised by Arthritis Ireland to campaign for improved paediatric rheumatology services.

A statement from the HSE said it had invited Arthritis Ireland earlier this year to identify two priority consultant posts which could be funded in 2009 and that they sought consultant rheumatologists for treatment of adults, one each for Kerry and Navan.

"If the prioritisation is now otherwise funding would have to be switched or new funding sought," the HSE said.

Arthritis Ireland is this week calling on the public to sign a petition at Arthritis Ireland | Arthritis Support | Arthritis Information | Pain Relief | Diet | Exercise demanding the immediate appointment of a second paediatric rheumatologist. Children aged five to 18 have joined the campaign.





Read more: Just one specialist for 1,000 children with arthritis | Irish Examiner

[Stroke]

After Fás, now the HSE, both under the "management" of Mary Harney.

When you see a donkey, ride it.

That seems to be the prevailing attitude among the heads semi-state bodies......

[FrankSpeaks]

The only way that Drumm would deserve to get €70k in my view is if he scrapped the €250k contracts to consultants, that amount of money (consultants pay) is obscene.

[Defcon1]

How many young woman could be given the cervical cancer vaccine for €70,000. Our healthcare system is a joke.

You think the Greens who have bothered to address this in there PFG but no , their more concerned about GM crops , minks , and Dublin bus shelters.

Mr. Drumm should hang his head in shame.

[DerekOwens]

The only way that Drumm would deserve to get €70k in my view is if he scrapped the €250k contracts to consultants, that amount of money (consultants pay) is obscene.

In fairness to Drumm (and I'm not a fan of how the HSE operates) he did at least try on that one to drive a hard bargain. Didn't some IHCA chap come out and say he "wouldn't get out of bed" for €250K? When' you're dealing with people like that (who clearly don't give a hoot about how their perceived outside their union) it's very difficult.

[edor]

Irrespective of the issues in a medical sense, there is also the wider issue of the 3.5% claim SIPTU have lodged for Health Service workers. The HSE have placed themselves on the back-foot here. While I don't agree with the union's claim, I don't see why they shouldn't put every effort into it now when the head of the HSE received a bonus of €70k in a year full of misdiagnosis and when he had to go back to government with a begging bowl having exceeded his annual budget and not delivering the service. This is a reward for failure.

[White Horse]

Disgusting, disgraceful, and shameful.

[anlkestony]

Oh my God.. They the Top layer of Public Service and politicians are pis*ing on us and havin a right laugh. Time for IMF now

[laidback]

Re the under resourcing of arthritis services for children - that €70,000 bonus would pay the services of a nurse and a physio for a year.....

its not only politicians that have hard necks...Drumm is up there with them

[cHeal]

How many young woman could be given the cervical cancer vaccine for €70,000. Our healthcare system is a joke.

You think the Greens who have bothered to address this in there PFG but no , their more concerned about GM crops , minks , and Dublin bus shelters.

Mr. Drumm should hang his head in shame.

Ray Darcy?????


Yeah, I can't see how the HSE can refuse to pay agreed pay rises for one sector of the service but when it comes to Dr Drumms contract, they have to pay that bonus even though his employment has lead to the ruin of our health System.