Ex-hospital engineer claims damages over unutilised vacation leave

The former head of engineering operations at Mater Dei Hospital yesterday filed a judicial protest against the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) claiming that he was entitled to his vacation leave and damages.

Engineer Ray Piscopo told the First Hall of the Civil Court that he had been employed with FMS for almost three years. Between January 2006 and last July he had occupied the post of chief engineer at St Luke's Hospital and last December he formed part of the management staff at Mater Dei, within the Health Ministry, until the hospital was completed.

From the moment he had assumed his management post within Mater Dei, the FMS had removed all the files and documents he had compiled in respect of the engineering system within the new hospital. No explanation was ever given by FMS and Mr Piscopo told the court these files and documents were essential for him to carry out his work as head of engineering operations.

Mr Piscopo said that as a result he had been given no choice but to resign from his post last February for he could not carry out his duties according to professional ethics. But prior to his resignation, Mr Piscopo had accumulated 34 and one-half days of unutilised vacation leave, which he had not been able to avail himself of due to the urgency in completing the new hospital.

He had written to the FMS requesting that he be authorised to take this leave but his letters remained unanswered. Mr Piscopo claimed that he was entitled at law to receive his pay until such vacation leave was exhausted.

He added that the chief executive officer of Mater Dei had written to him, thanking him for the priceless work he had given over the last years.

Mr Piscopo called upon the FMS to make good the damages he had sustained.

Lawyer Kris Busietta acted for Mr Piscopo.