Spending Public Money
As promised, here is the full response from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - which I referred to in a previous post dated 25 October 2011.
Now unless I have misunderstood something - the health board is saying that three employees are paid an extra £8,008 a year - for acting as members of NHS GGC.
One as an Employee Director and two others - appointed by Scottish Ministers as Non-Executive Members of the Board.
So that makes £8,008 x 3 = £24,024 and added up across the whole of Scotland - that amounts to what exactly?
I think we should be told.
I'm all in favour of having employee directors on the 'board' - but what I don't understand is why they get paid any extra - if they are allowed time-off with pay to do the job.
To my mind that's an inappropriate way - to use public money.
Dear Mr Irvine
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Thank you for your request received on 27 July 2011, for information as described in your email below. I am now able to provide a response on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as follows:
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
The current Employee Director of Greater Glasgow Health Board (commonly known as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) is Mr Donald Sime. I have included a link to the Board Members section of our website which gives a brief profile of all Board Members, including Mr Sime.
Link to Board Members section: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s108
Link to profile for Mr Donald Sime: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_34
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
Mr Sime is entitled to the same level of remuneration and expenses payable to other board members appointed in a personal capacity by Scottish Ministers, in addition to his salary as an employee. The level of remuneration that Mr Sime currently receives for being Employee Director is £8,008.00pa.
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
As shown in the Board members section of NHSGGC's website, Mr Sime's substantive post is that of Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology.
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
Mr Sime carries out his Employee Director duties on a full-time basis (37.5 hours per week).
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
The Employee Director is a stakeholder member of the Board from the joint trade unions of the Area Partnership Forum and is therefore required to be a member of one of those trade unions. Mr Sime is a member of Unite the Union.
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
The Employee Director is appointed following nomination and vote by the membership of the Area Partnership Forum. The appointment as a non-Executive member of the NHS Board as Employee Director is then subject to Ministerial approval.
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
There are no other Directors who are employees of the Health Board and who receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors. There are two non-executive Members of the Board who are employees of NHSGGC and who receive remuneration in addition to their substantive posts for being non-Executive Members as appointed by Scottish Ministers. These are Patricia Spencer, Chair of the Area Clinical Forum, and Cllr Joseph McIlwee. Profiles for Mrs Spencer and Cllr McIlwee can be found in the Board Members section of our website.
Link to profile for Mrs Patricia Spencer: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_58
Link to profile for Cllr Joseph McIlwee: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_45
I hope that this information is helpful. If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you have a right to request a review of this decision within 40 working days of receiving this response. The procedure for consideration of a review is detailed in the attached note. The note also describes your right to pursue the matter with the Scottish Information Commissioner if, following a request for review, you remain dissatisfied with the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If following appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner you still remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law against the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
If you wish us to review this decision, please complete the form enclosed and return it to the Head of Board Administration, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Corporate HQ, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH.
Should you require any clarification about this response or the right to request a review please contact me at the details below.
Yours sincerely
Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
From: markirvine@compuserve.com [mailto:markirvine@compuserve.com]
To: Calderwood, Robert
Subject: FOISA Request
27 July 2011
Robert Calderwood
Chief Executive
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
BY E-MAIL
Dear Mr Calderwood
FOISA Request
I would like to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
I look forward to your reply and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
Now unless I have misunderstood something - the health board is saying that three employees are paid an extra £8,008 a year - for acting as members of NHS GGC.
One as an Employee Director and two others - appointed by Scottish Ministers as Non-Executive Members of the Board.
So that makes £8,008 x 3 = £24,024 and added up across the whole of Scotland - that amounts to what exactly?
I think we should be told.
I'm all in favour of having employee directors on the 'board' - but what I don't understand is why they get paid any extra - if they are allowed time-off with pay to do the job.
To my mind that's an inappropriate way - to use public money.
Dear Mr Irvine
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Thank you for your request received on 27 July 2011, for information as described in your email below. I am now able to provide a response on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as follows:
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
The current Employee Director of Greater Glasgow Health Board (commonly known as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) is Mr Donald Sime. I have included a link to the Board Members section of our website which gives a brief profile of all Board Members, including Mr Sime.
Link to Board Members section: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s108
Link to profile for Mr Donald Sime: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_34
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
Mr Sime is entitled to the same level of remuneration and expenses payable to other board members appointed in a personal capacity by Scottish Ministers, in addition to his salary as an employee. The level of remuneration that Mr Sime currently receives for being Employee Director is £8,008.00pa.
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
As shown in the Board members section of NHSGGC's website, Mr Sime's substantive post is that of Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology.
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
Mr Sime carries out his Employee Director duties on a full-time basis (37.5 hours per week).
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
The Employee Director is a stakeholder member of the Board from the joint trade unions of the Area Partnership Forum and is therefore required to be a member of one of those trade unions. Mr Sime is a member of Unite the Union.
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
The Employee Director is appointed following nomination and vote by the membership of the Area Partnership Forum. The appointment as a non-Executive member of the NHS Board as Employee Director is then subject to Ministerial approval.
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
There are no other Directors who are employees of the Health Board and who receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors. There are two non-executive Members of the Board who are employees of NHSGGC and who receive remuneration in addition to their substantive posts for being non-Executive Members as appointed by Scottish Ministers. These are Patricia Spencer, Chair of the Area Clinical Forum, and Cllr Joseph McIlwee. Profiles for Mrs Spencer and Cllr McIlwee can be found in the Board Members section of our website.
Link to profile for Mrs Patricia Spencer: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_58
Link to profile for Cllr Joseph McIlwee: http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_45
I hope that this information is helpful. If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you have a right to request a review of this decision within 40 working days of receiving this response. The procedure for consideration of a review is detailed in the attached note. The note also describes your right to pursue the matter with the Scottish Information Commissioner if, following a request for review, you remain dissatisfied with the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If following appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner you still remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law against the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
If you wish us to review this decision, please complete the form enclosed and return it to the Head of Board Administration, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Corporate HQ, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH.
Should you require any clarification about this response or the right to request a review please contact me at the details below.
Yours sincerely
Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
From: markirvine@compuserve.com [mailto:markirvine@compuserve.com]
To: Calderwood, Robert
Subject: FOISA Request
27 July 2011
Robert Calderwood
Chief Executive
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
BY E-MAIL
Dear Mr Calderwood
FOISA Request
I would like to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
I look forward to your reply and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
