Question Time: Health, Social Services and Public Safety Tuesday 13 May 2014
Concern
around salary payments to health service staff dominated today’s
questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
Edwin Poots. In the past year all Health and Social Care trusts have introduced
a new payment system and while the majority of basic salary payments have been
made without problem, there has been an issue in paying allowances and overtime
to some staff. At the beginning of the new tax year some staff have also had
additional national insurance contributions deducted from their pay in error.
Mr Poots is “extremely concerned and disappointed at the difficulties that some
staff are experiencing in receiving the correct pay” and fully expects
departmental officials, trusts and Business Services Management to work
together to ensure that all payment issues are resolved. There is also a plan
in place to resolve the issue of incorrect national insurance contributions
with the aim of including it in the next monthly pay.
Phil Girvan
asked the Minister about the possibility of health professionals, other than
doctors, being able to prescribe medication for patients. Mr Poots confirmed
that his “Department has supported and taken forward the necessary legislation
to enable that to happen, in line with the rest of the UK”, describing it as “an
important part of my Department’s commitment to modernise health and social
care”. This should make it easier for patients to get access to the medication
they need and, “by using a range of prescribers, we can improve that patient
care without compromising patient safety”.
The Minister
also answered questions on car parking at the Ulster Hospital, addiction
services and the North West innovation corridor. During topical questions Mr
Poots continued to answer Members’ queries on social services support for
victims of racist attacks, malnutrition in hospitals, waiting times for GP appointments
and staff morale in the health service.
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