THE wall of silence over concerns that more than £500,000 has been wasted by Health and Social Services on a bungled staff suspension yesterday received official backing.

The Policy Council joined Health in refusing to discuss the waste of taxpayers’ money in any detail.

And Health was yesterday unable to challenge Guernsey Press disclosures that its procrastination over paying a consultant not to work for two years had cost the island dear.

It also emerged that the figure could be greater than first thought.

A health professional was reportedly suspended on full pay after a clash with a boss.

It is understood that Health and Social Services employed a locum to cover the post.

The Policy Council, which employs all civil servants, was tight-lipped.

Deputy chief executive Nigel Lewis (pictured) said: ‘These are matters between the employer and employee and it is the Policy Council’s policy not to prejudice either the outcome of such cases nor affect the reputation and career prospects of existing or former staff by discussing such matters with the media.’

Health released a short statement that said the articles and the opinion column in Thursday’s Guernsey Press ‘contain many inaccuracies and appear to be based largely on incorrect supposition.

‘The Health and Social Services Department supports the statement provided to the media by the Policy Council,’ it added.