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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 23rd MARCH 2010
Question
"Will the Minister inform members what budget provision, if any, she has made, or has under consideration, to fund payments for unpaid overtime or other additional hours to cover for understaffed services for:
- nurses, and
- other medical staff?
Will she further inform members of the extent to which any such payments are required for each of these groups by giving:
- the numberof staff affected
- the totalof additional days (or shifts) worked
- the totalsumsrequired?"
Answer
Overtime is either paid or taken in lieu, which is agreed at the time between managers and clinicians.
There are two reasons why areas may be understaffed. This could be due to unfilled vacancies or an increased workload level that is too high for the existing substantive establishment to manage.
Primarily, additional payments to cover unfilled vacancies are partly funded through the budget from the vacant post, this applies to all posts, nursing or other medical staff. However, agency, locum and overtime cost more than a substantive post.
If the establishment needs to be increased because of a higher workload, the Health and Social Services Department prioritises its resources, as per States of Jersey Financial Directions.
As there is no such thing as unpaid overtime the second part of this question is not valid.