Babies flown to UK as Beau Sejour pays more
Monday 17th November 2008, 2:30PM GMT.
Beau Sejour Centre – two pharmacy technicians left the PEH to work here because the pay is better.
A MOTHER and premature baby recently forced by a lack of staff at the PEH pharmacy to be flown to the UK are not the only ones.
It emerged at the weekend that at least three mothers with premature babies have had to be treated off-island this year because of personnel shortages.
Two pharmacy technicians, who prepare premature infants’ intravenous feeds, recently left to be receptionists at Beau Sejour where the antisocial hours mean their take-home pay is more and the responsibility is much less, said Deputy Mike Hadley.
The Health Department board member has broken ranks to publicise the issue. An expectant mother was flown out last week, while others have faced the trip shortly after giving birth, adding to the risk and trauma they already face.
Deputy Hadley estimates the latest case will cost around £100,000. The mother is expected to give birth at 30 weeks.
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Can’t imagine that kind of wage disparity happening if the leisure centre was run by a private company…maybe the States needs to review?
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I agree Carts. The different pay scales within the civil service are very baffling. Every week in the situations vacant columns there are similar sounding jobs with different pay levels.
The other side of the coin is why aren’t these feeds being made up by the pharmacists? Why by ‘non-professional’ staff who can earn more by being a receptionist at Beau Sejour? Alernatively why not just offer these technicians unsocial hours pay to prepare the feeds – after all babies need feeding 24/7 so who prepares the feeds at the weekends and at night?
It just doesn’t sound right. The other thing is that there are lots of staff working within the health services who have NVQ qualifications or other qualifications who earn a pittance. Bringing staff from the UK is not going to be cost effective – they will be entitled to housing allowances, relocation allowances etc. Madness! Just start looking after your local staff Board of Health and you might keep them. A job is much more than a salary.
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They joined Beau Sejour 18 months ago, thats not recently !!! Its a non story !!
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Maybe if healthcare staff at the PEH were paid a decent wage there wouldn’t be that sort of problem.
Beausie receptionists certainly don’t earn a great deal.
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What does this say about our local Civil Service exactly? Please let me know!
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The saddest thing here is the fact that we wish to remain credible whilst at the same time as lining other peoples pockets with our hard ear’t. We desperately need to have a vote of confidence. I haven’t any! How do others feel?
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