HEALTH MINISTER JAMES Reilly came under fire yesterday when it was reported that an advisor had been hired to work on his Special Delivery Unit.
However, it emerged that it was a consultant, Lis Nixon, who had been hired as Director of Unscheduled Care working within the SDU. The story, which was originally reported by IrishHealth.com, was clarified yesterday by the Department of Health, a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that the only reason Nixon’s appointment was initially criticised by people including Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher – who described the pay as “obscene” for an advisor – was because the pay cap for an advisor is €92,000. However, Nixon is a consultant and is being paid €164,000 per year.
This is the second consultant hired at more than €160,000 per annum to work in the SDU. Dr Martin Connor is employed at a salary of €160,000.
The Department of Health spokesperson said that Nixon was “instrumental in the UK in making major improvements in waiting times in Emergency Departments” and in past decades had worked in a leading way in bringing performance improvements in scheduled care across England.
Within the SDU, there is a Director of Performance Improvement for Scheduled Care and one for Unscheduled Care. Within her new role as the latter, Nixon will be answerable to Chief Operating Officer Tony O’Brien.
Speaking on Morning Ireland today, Lucinda Creighton defended the amount Nixon is being paid. “I don’t think it should be held against her,” she said, noting that Nixon is bringing her knowledge and expertise to the role and “can help James Reilly in his mission to reduce waiting list”.
However, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, said in response that “people are disillusioned” with a “make-it-up as you go along policy” and said that though they “expected reform”, “again and again you’re seeing it with these payments”.
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