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3.21 Deputy A.E. Jeune of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the Head of Nursing for Emergency and Unscheduled Care's contract: Given that the Head of Nursing for Emergency and Unscheduled Care's fixed term contract ended in April, would the Minister advise why this was a (j) category post, whether additional expenses were incurred and if so what, what the current situation is in respect of this post and what action, if any, has been taken during the 6-month contract period to find a suitable permanent post holder.
Deputy J.A. Martin (Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services -
rapporteur):
Thank you, Deputy . Yes, it is not unusual for many of our nurses to be (j) category, approximately about one-third are. To what this person has been doing, he has been overseeing A. and E. (Accident and Emergency) and our new E.A.U. (Emergency Assessment Unit). We needed these special skills to draw-up a proper job description of exactly who we need. We are going out to advertise for this job the week starting yesterday.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
Could the Assistant Minister advise why it has taken them so long to prepare that job description and what is the current situation given that the contract for the previous post-holder has expired?
[12:00]
Deputy J.A. Martin:
As I say, it is a new unit, E.A.U., and it has gone from 9 beds to, I think, between 15 and 16 beds. As I said, 6 months for this new specialist unit and what skills we will need for a permanent post-holder, I think is quite reasonable. Yes, it has taken a little bit longer than we obviously wanted and the person is still in post and I presume that he will be being paid exactly what he was under his fixed-term contract. But I am absolutely not sure of that one.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
The answer has not been given to what the additional expenses are. We do not know what we are currently paying this person; by the sound of it, it is a grade 8. Apart from that, what additional expenses are being incurred? It appears we are never able to get answers.
Deputy J.A. Martin:
I am sorry. The Deputy does get very frustrated over not being able to get into the personal expenses of many of the people who work at the hospital and probably in other places. It is contractual. It is not in the public domain. As my Minister and many Ministers have said, they are not willing to release this information. I know that frustrates the Deputy , but until we change the rules and we identify all these people individually, that is the way it will be.
Deputy A.E. Jeune :
This is tax payers' money. Exactly what additional expenses get paid?
The Bailiff :
I fear, Deputy , that question time has now run out on us. So, Deputy Lewis , I am sorry, but your question falls away. Just before we come to questions without notice, 2 matters have been lodged. First of all, P.77 - Hand-held Devices in the States Chamber: trial - lodged by the Privileges and Procedures Committee. Secondly, P.78 - Composition of the States: further debates before the outcome of the Electoral Commission - lodged by Deputy Trevor Pitman.