Updated: Management explains as hospital worker racks up €35,000 in overtime
A nurse and patients in the hyperbaric unit.
Updated 4.16 p.m.
The management of Mater Dei Hospital said this afternoon that despite a shortage of resources, it had cut down on overtime and other shortcomings, including overpayments, highlighted by the Auditor-General in a report tabled in Parliament yesterday.
The Audit office had reported that a hospital consultant received €80,000 in allowances, three nurses were paid a mysterious diving allowance and a payroll officer got €35,000 in overtime... all from taxpayers’ money.
In a statement, Mater Dei Hospital said that the issues considered by the auditor were, in most cases, the same ones already under scrutiny by the current management. It said it had cooperated fully with the NAO in order to tackle as many critical issues as necessary.
It was clear, it said, that the shortage of human resources was a main issue which, in turn gave rise to overtime.
"Today at MDH there are three officers and seven clerks catering for the salaries of over 4000 employees. Computerisation of this activity is under way but the complexities due to the wide variety of different salary and allowance arrangements in the different professions are making this implementation long and complex. This is the reason why a high rate of overtime was undertaken in the salaries section," Mater Dei said.
"Manual checking and computation of the variety of allowances of such a huge number of employees and rosters takes time. MDH management has repeatedly attempted to institute a mechanism where all MDH employees punch in and out of work using an electronic attendance validation system but such requests were repeatedly turned down by the unions," it said. With such a system, control and expediency would be easier, resulting in many fewer mistakes.
The management added that in 2011 and 2012 a significant effort to control overtime was made and this resulted in a significant decrease in overtime compared to previous years. Overtime was carried out only where services need to be delivered to guarantee patient safety.
"All discrepancies discovered in the audit have been corrected and any overpayment or underpayment sorted out. There is also a new system that ensures that such overpayments or underpayments do not occur," the management said.
"Unfortunately an ongoing union directive in the dentistry department advising dentists not to sign the attendance sheets (with times in and out) is not helping to sort the matter.
"It also pertinent to note that the nursing diving allowance is related to the nurses giving treatment in the hyperbaric unit. This unit, which is one of the most modern in Europe, is not only used to assist divers but also to deliver specialised treatment to, amongst other, diabetic patients. The set up, is said, required both patient and nurses to spend time in the hyperbaric chamber exposed to atmospheric pressure as in diving, and hence, the diving allowance.
AUDITOR'S REMARKS
In his scathing review, the auditor said that a review of Mater Dei Hospital’s wage bill showed the amount budgeted for allowances and overtime was overshot by more than €700,000 in 2011.
The report noted that the consultant who received an €80,000 allowance was overpaid almost €16,000.
Overpayment seemed to be a repeated occurrence among consultants, who then had to pay back the extra money in monthly instalments.
Three nurses received “a diving allowance” that is not mentioned in any of the public service reform agreements signed to date.
The NAO said it was unclear whether the diving allowance was officially approved – the only information available on the subject was email correspondence between the Office of the Prime Minister and Mater Dei Hospital, in which the rate per diving hour is stipulated.
The report also noted the high level of overtime worked by hospital staff, which was not always authorised.
In some cases hospital workers doubled their salary with overtime payments, with the highest overtime earners being employees in the payroll office.
The NAO found that four employees in the payroll office – three of them clerks – earned an average of €28,700 each for overtime in 2011.
The officer in charge of authorising and certifying overtime at Mater Dei Hospital “happened to receive” the highest amount for overtime. She clocked up more than €35,000 in extra payments, according to the NAO.
The NAO questioned the correctness and reliability of dentists’ attendance sheets since there were inadequate controls.
Radiographers were also put in the spotlight because of what appeared to be a tacit agreement for them to work a 35-hour week, with any hours above the limit paid at overtime rates.
The NAO could not find a copy of the international guidelines that were quoted by the hospital administration to justify the radiographers’ working hours.
It seemed to be international practice for radiographers to work fewer hours, thus reducing their exposure to radiation. But in a pointed remark, the NAO said it could not understand why radiographers could not have a basic 40-hour work week, of which only 35 hours could be worked in radiation-exposed areas.
The Gozo general hospital was in a similar situation, with the NAO saying that wage-related payments were “not always backed up with proper records to substantiate the expenditure”.
The situation was particularly bad in the case of consultants, where no records were kept to indicate the number of sessions performed.
“Internal controls in various areas relating to salaries were weak or entirely lacking,” the NAO said, noting there were inadequate budgetary controls on overtime.
But the report covered other areas of public administration, highlighting various shortcomings, including the failure by most entities to reach the Government’s budgetary target of reducing arrears in 2011 by 10 per cent.
An analysis of direct order approvals, granted by the Finance Ministry in 2011, highlighted a number of concerns, including the incidence of “retroactive approvals”.
The full report can be viewed on the NAO website: www.nao.gov.mt.
Good Causes Fund
• The fund, administered by the Finance Ministry, had insufficient documentation to show how funds granted to beneficiaries were used for 2006 to 2010.
• Other shortcomings included funds distributed before the completion of projects and receipt of funds not always backed up by a signed declaration from the respective beneficiaries.
Wasteserv
• An audit of capital and recurrent expenditure incurred by the Government waste management agency revealed long delays and substantial cost variations on capital projects.
• Lack of transparency and non-compliance with procurement regulations were also noted, especially regarding sub-contracted labour.
Education
• Internal Education Ministry controls were not sufficient to ensure efficient administration of public funds.
• Control weaknesses were identified, including inadequate verifications resulting in incorrect payments and lack of proper stock records.
Sapport
• The social welfare agency had shortcomings in various areas, including the management of fixed assets, payroll and inadequate control of fuel consumption by general-use cars.
• Procurement regulations were not always followed.
Local councils
• For the second year, no audit opinion was expressed on the Mosta council financial statements because of various “material shortcomings encountered”.
• 23 local councils and two regional committees registered a deficit.
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169 Comments
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Anthony Girard
Dec 6th 2012, 15:01
a payroll officer got €35,000 in overtime...over what period of time and at what rate ?
If it is tax-payers money we ought to know.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Dec 5th 2012, 09:17
Maybe, by the Grace of God, these payroll people will still be under the 60,000 euro threshold so as to benefit from the rate reductions. I never grudged anyone his earnings, but letting people get more than a salary in overtime without their superiors even noticing (or perhaps noticing but saying nothing) is an insult to taxpayers. Well, for one person, their 'explanation' is hereby trashed.
Ronnie Callus
Dec 5th 2012, 09:06
Ghall min iridu huma ghandhom flus.Jista wiehed jinneggah dan meta qabel il-pensjonanti u il-klassi media kien jibqalhom il-flus biex jghatu lin-neputijhiet. U mela jigi il-gvern u jnaqqas it-taxxa lil dawk li jaqalawa tajjeb.Din gustizzja jghidila l-Gvern li ghandna !!!!
Joe Morana
Dec 5th 2012, 08:43
One wonders how these 'excesses' were allowed to fester when under another Ministry one needs the specific approval of the Principal Permanent Secretary himself for a mere one- off su generis 24 hours overtime request. Is it the case of 'penny wise - pound foolish'???
Ronnie Callus
Dec 5th 2012, 08:25
Bl-overtime li thallas kienu jimpjegaw aktar minn persuna wahda u kienu jsolvu l-problema u xejn, xejn jimpjegaw lil nies minn dawk li mghandhomx xoghol.Dan kien jghamel aktar sens nahseb.
Emanuel Aquilina
Dec 5th 2012, 08:22
This malady is rife in ALL Gov. departments. And no mention of employees skiving work where some barely work 4 hours daily, (assuming they report for work at all !). This has to STOP!
Godfrey Pisani
Dec 5th 2012, 07:33
They are easy with the people's money . When it comes to their's then .....,,,,,,it's good to be the king . That's how it was and that's how it will remain . What a dumb generation we are to keep clapping for this s... Throughout Europe.
Joseph Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 07:16
No wonder we are in this miserable situation ! We need a clean up in this country from Top to bottom!
Mr Adrian Zahra
Dec 5th 2012, 06:04
At this point one starts to ponder if it makes more sense for the government to pay for care in the private sector rather than running the show himself.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Dec 5th 2012, 05:42
"Today at MDH there are three officers and seven clerks catering for the salaries of over 4000 employees. Computerisation of this activity is under way ........" -I can't believe that they didn't start with a computerised system anyway, in such a modern and up-to-date hospital! Was this part of the bad things which 'migrated' from St Luke's?
M Grima
Dec 5th 2012, 01:31
In the land of Mickey Mouse, together everything is possible, even working around 96 hours a week for a whole year. These guys are either superhuman or else this is one big joke (or rather fraud). And they say that pigs cannot fly: they certainly do at Mater Dei!!!!!
LOUIS JOSEPH BORG
Dec 5th 2012, 00:36
why does not the union want hand punching? also its the employer to decide what system is used for punching!
Ms.D. Galea
Dec 5th 2012, 00:04
The reply given by the Mater Dei management is worthy of Sir. Appleby of ''Yes Minister'' fame.
lol
G Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 22:48
Scale Salary Hours p.a. € per hour Rate
15 €13,563 2,080 €6.52 Standard
€28,700 2,934 €9.78 Over-time @ 1.5
Total working hours p.a. 5,014
MDH payroll clerk average working hours in 2011 = 96 hours per week
Charles Galea
Dec 4th 2012, 22:15
Il problema hija l professuri ma jridux dik is sistema,inkella kif jista jkun f nofs in nhar ikun fil private clinic!!mela l unions tal haddiema l ohra kif tridhom jaccettaw.
GAUCI JOSEPH C
Dec 4th 2012, 22:11
What I really feel that the Auditor General should check is the financial expenses incurred by the office of Mr Speaker with regards to the fringe benefits enjoyed by serving members of parliament and others who are no longer MPs. What is the free postage allowance each member is entitled to? What telephone befits (land line and mobile) are they enjoying? Is this not tax payers money?
Charles Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 22:08
I'm afraid that Simon has a long, long hill to climb! In his words " a vertical wall".. to instill a teeny,weeny bit of credibility in gonziPN or the PN for that matter! Enough is Enough!! But for this regime, it is never enough.. the more it feeds upon us the taxpayers, the more ravenous it becomes!! greed of the parasites of gonziPN knows no bounds...as long as lawrence is in charge..I VOTE PL!
S. Vella
Dec 4th 2012, 22:00
"MDH management has repeatedly attempted to institute a mechanism where all MDH employees punch in and out of work using an electronic attendance validation system but such requests were repeatedly turned down by the unions"
The unions should answer this asap. There is no valid reason not to implement this system.
Jimmy Ventura
Dec 4th 2012, 21:46
Kemm medicini qed jiskadu u jintremew?
Dawk is-sindki li thallsu elef ta euro zejda, irrifondewhom?
L-iskandlu tal VAT fejn issemmew il miljuni mar xi hadd il-habs bhal ma mar Nikki?
GL Calleja
Dec 4th 2012, 20:52
Don't blame the employees, blame the irresponsible management and the government in general. How dare they allow such corruption while the tax payer who is footing the bill in the first place is trying to stretch his or her pay check to put food on the table for their family. Yes we do need a change. What kind of an irresponsible explanation does the Health Minister have to offer? Pathetic.
G Schembri
Dec 4th 2012, 20:42
28,000 euro is about one and a half times the wage of a clerk, so were these clerks working an extra 40hrs each week? That is practically impossible. Then we hear of health assisstants who are paid peanuts for all the hard work with the patients SHAME!
will any of these persons be taken to court for misappropriation of public funds?.
M Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 20:25
Fantastic reasoning by management at Mater Dei . . . . overpy staff because they are overstretched . . . a simple extrapolation of this to nursing and physicians might make the hospital work round the clock not just till noon when everyone scurries away to their real paying job, incidentally most of us would work harder if we were paid like these super-clerks.
What a joke!
Mr Mike Farrugia
Dec 4th 2012, 20:22
Mhux ta bxejn, cassar ma kienx favur tonio!
Alfred Falzon
Dec 4th 2012, 18:41
Well, that's hardly d way to address d nation's growing deficit & then tax d ordinary man-in-the-street who can hardly make both ends meet!
Some unions may have a finger in d pie or rather pudding by refusing stricter controls!
I for one would not just pin d blame on Govt but on all those who prefer d silence of d grave rather than take d bull by d horns even in Opposition!
Alf A Falzon
Keith Davis
Dec 4th 2012, 17:31
A big thumbs down to the said unions who resist signed or electronic attendances for which would cut the majority of abuse.
I always insisted and this case strengthens my belief that many times the unions go way beyond their actual remit in safeguarding employees and end up totally working against the country's interests.
GL Calleja
Dec 4th 2012, 20:58
This goes on with most government agencies. Overspending at the TAX PAYER's expense. No wonder everybody wants a job with the government. I wonder how many millions of euros are wasted at Air Malta, Enemalta and at Transport Malta and these are only a few. Malta needs an outside auditor to go over the books of every Government agency with a fine tooth comb. How disgusting?
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 4th 2012, 17:27
Reading all this one can understand how Joseph will reduce our utilities bill. Just eliminating all this in Government's department.
walter camilleri
Dec 4th 2012, 17:26
This is truly a shocking indictment of both department heads and Ministers, but it's interesting to note that not one of the obviously pro-labour bloggers cared to comment on the fact that the Unions consistently obstruct the introduction of electronic attendance control. Hence, in part, the excessively high overtime costs?
Walter Camilleri
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 4th 2012, 17:17
This is a shameful way of how public money is squandered. I cannot understand how the Hospital Management / Government did not insist on all hospital employees to use the E.A.V.S.C to punch in and out of work. The punch system has been in used for a long time especially in the private sector. So why should the hospital workers object? Why did the Management not insist on its implementation?
Joe borg
Dec 4th 2012, 17:14
I am still trying to make heads or tails as to why the delay in submitting this report. Did any recent developments influence the timing of publication??
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 17:08
So there we have it... the unions think they are helping their members by resisting punching-in electronically... now, why would that be and what do members stand to gain. Doesn't this NAO report convince the unions that transparency is needed?
It is far more difficult to cheat a specialised computerised system.
A.Felix Busuttil
Dec 4th 2012, 17:03
Shame on the Management of mater dei and the Minister who after all is responsible. The Auditor General already draw the attention and still the management is having a gravy train from the tax payer. How important is this person to make €35,000 overtime? with this amount you could have employed a professional with less pay. SHAME
Joseph M. Saliba
Dec 4th 2012, 17:00
And the name of the only sacrificed lamb is NIki Dimech.
Joe borg
Dec 4th 2012, 16:56
X'kien qed izomm lill awditur milli jitkellem qabel? Jekk kien jaf b'dawn l-affarijiet zmien twil ilu ghaliex tkellem issa? Min jaf?
Paul Azzopardi
Dec 4th 2012, 16:41
And then one might also ask...why do the Maltese think that corruption is rife in Malta???? And if a civil servant may risk enjoying such corruption what would it take for other more in power to yet take even more advantage of their position. Then they say all is fair in the eyes of God. But I say God is whoever runs the show along with his apostles or ministers and whoever surrounds them........
Anna Sullivan
Dec 4th 2012, 16:37
Name, Blame, Shame.... then off with their heads... starting with the ones not only responsible, but also those ACCOUNTABLE for this entire intentional mess...
Martin Saliba
Dec 4th 2012, 16:35
This abuse can be easily eliminated if the hospital , and if need be , all gov. dept payrolls are mange by a private accountancy firm .
roger gauci
Dec 4th 2012, 20:32
Woww what a good idea. And the privacy firms are on a voluntary basis and do not get paid ??? I think the cost will be x10 for a privacy firm to cater payrolls for 4,000 employess so better not judge anyone
G Schembri
Dec 4th 2012, 16:30
These people earn thousands of extra euro, while others work long hours and earn less than the minimum wage. Il-Huta minn rasha tinten, jekk il-ministry ha xi 25,000 euro minn wara dahar kulhadd, x'tistenna minn ta tahtu? Koruzzjoni Galore-taht par idejn soddi.
Brian Gatt
Dec 4th 2012, 16:15
I cannot say i am surprised, I am very disgusted though, if you pay peanuts you get monkeys, couldnt agree more however these people are paid their weight in gold and still the waiting lists increase, the average waiting time at the Emergency has become that of 6hrs.Iit seems that we are paying gold and still getting the bloomin monkeys
E. Azzopardi
Dec 4th 2012, 16:04
We are really on top of the situation here!!!
Why is this happening? And why does it have to reach the National Audit Office? Aren't there any accountants around"?
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 4th 2012, 15:54
The best answer for Malta's taxpayer is to reduce the Public sector's involvement to bare minimum. It should go down to less than 10% of the working population. Taxes and services should be minimal. Leave the money in people's pockets. Allow them the benefit of spending it as they wish, rather than collect the highest taxes possible and blowing up national borrowings to high heaven. WASTE RULES!!
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 4th 2012, 15:46
First of all there is no mention how these allowances are reflected in productivity. If the Payroll officer is doing the job of three personnel (shortage of staff) to meet monthly deadlines then he / she is well paid. If the consultant is providing 4 times the productivity without allowances than these allowances are blessed.
E. Azzopardi
Dec 4th 2012, 16:06
I have never heard of a civil servant who is providing four times the productivity!
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 4th 2012, 16:09
Perhaps you are right but the auditors did not check either.
K. Vella II
Dec 4th 2012, 16:34
Pity this practice of compensating for shortage of staff is not mirrored in the private sector. I wonder why.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 4th 2012, 16:58
I am sure the auditor did check, and would have commented had these super-workers been classified as such. Thus explaining their gross take of € 50,000 to €60,000 salary/perks/allowances/etc/etc/etc!!!
A Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 17:23
Neither have I heard of one in the private sector.
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 4th 2012, 17:44
How can you be so sure, Mr Pavia? Read the whole report and see whether the auditor had the decency to check staffing levels and productivity. The report is public and I couldn't find any statement about staffing level and productivity. This report is not worth its salt.
RACHEL GATT
Dec 5th 2012, 14:44
I agree with all you said as i know how hard they work as you said before they just say numbers that when they are said i have to admit it looks allot but when you check at least i can talk for few of the payroll officers i know how hard they work and if they check there work and the quantity of work they do they could talk other wise
and regarding Mr Azzopardi then you haven't seen these people
Oliver Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 15:29
There more than a thousand nurses working in mater dei that do not earn that sums of money do not have private clinics after work ,but unfortunately evrytime these figures come out there overtime is stopped overtime which is so much needed because the hospital management do not turn on those who committed these things and see what's happening but they will find it simple to stop all nurses ot sham
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 4th 2012, 15:57
Job plans should be tied to staffing and productivity levels.
Paul Bonello
Dec 4th 2012, 15:09
This is just the tip of the iceberg where financial abuses by Health Ministry are concerned. The Payroll Officer of Karin Grech Hospital was ignored by Ministry when in October 2011 he wrote about illegal employment of nurses. Apart from those working without a work permit there were at least 15 nurses working without financial approval in 2011 in defiance of instructions from the office of the PM
Ronnie Callus
Dec 4th 2012, 15:08
Veru pajjiz tal-biki meta tisma b'dawn in-nuqqasijiet mit-taxxi tal-poplu.X'ma jkollniex nies jabbuzaw f'kull qasam tal-hajja meta jaraw dawn l-affarijiet jigru u ghall gvern qiesu mhu qed jigri xejn,u l-ebda azzjoni ma'titiehed.Jekk mhux serq dan xi trid issejjahlu mela !Qatt ma'rajt daqstant kurruzzjoni f'dan il-pajjiz hlif ghal dawn l-ahhar kwart ta'seklu ta'tmexxi PN.X'ma jkollhiex dejn Malta!
j brincat
Dec 4th 2012, 14:59
'Am I reading excerpts from 'Stejjar tal-Wahx'?
And many cannot even make both ends meet!
How ironic?
(jb)
M Grima
Dec 4th 2012, 14:39
This is GonziPN for you and me, 'libertinagg sfrenat' for friends of friends.
And the citizens of Mickey Mouse land just sit pretty and do nothing. Your chance to talk with your vote is very near. Use it to get rid of all this mess and corruption.
Joe Grech
Dec 4th 2012, 14:39
This administration has been shown to be not just inefficient and irresponsible but also CORRUPT. And our perpetually grinning P.M. wants us to re-elect him! What a cheek...
The auditor has shown who the robbers are - now what? Will the Police intervene? Will the Minister responsible resign?
Will Malta continue grinding itself into the dust thanks to P.N. mismanagement and corruption?
I Bugeja
Dec 4th 2012, 14:04
I'M GONNA SHOUT THIS SORRY!
Did anyone ask how these amounts went unobserved by their superiors earlier? If these employees were caught were their supervisors and management happy with a situation of so many man hours or is no one responsbile?
alfred seguna
Dec 4th 2012, 17:05
IN Malta no one is ACCOUNTABLE and RESPONSIBLE .There is no culture of RESIGNATIONS and so what remains is a sort of JUNGLE where those at the top do what they like.Everyone tries to get as much a bigger share from the cake and it is the worker at the lowest strata that always get the blame whenever a workplace gets bankrupt.This happened at the dockyard ,airmalta etc.EXPLANATIONS are needed.
Charles Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 22:04
BECAUSE THEIR SUPERIORS HAVE TO BE INVOLVED...AND WHO IS THE SUPERIOR TO THE CONSULTANTS??!?!
Dennis Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 14:03
Find me a job at Mater Dei payroll office please.
matin calleya
Dec 5th 2012, 08:51
I Wonder IF you know what it means to work at the payroll office,IF you are able to work with burn outs, able to do the job of 3 people, stay at work till late for several months.In this case forget your family. You will have no time to be bored because you are too busy at work.
matin calleya
Dec 5th 2012, 08:52
AND I wonder IF you are able to cope FEELING tightly strung. I wonder IF you know how to have your life balanced and try to do many things too quickly FOR 4,000 people and be efficient for long hours. And I wonder if you know
What it means, what it means
And I wonder if you know
What it means to find your dreams ………………. KANYE WEST
pat muscat
Dec 4th 2012, 13:59
Qabel l-Maltin kienu jisirqu li Regina, u issa lill- Maltin! Dhalna fl-Ewropa u l-istandards Ewropej fi hdan l-Gvern, mid-dehra hadd ma jaqbillu idahhalhom! Indeed, viva l-Ewropa, mhux kollha: fejn jaqbel lilna biss!
Mr Paul Borg
Dec 4th 2012, 13:57
What about disciplinary proceedings against these hospital workers?? Or these have "Il-Barka minn naha ta' Fuq"??
Both Officers and their Directors/Managers should be interdicted with immediate effect!!
john muscat
Dec 4th 2012, 13:51
And all this perhaps with the blessings of a minister or other. No wonder the deficit gets higher and higher and we cwiec applaud them!
John iNGUANEZ
Dec 4th 2012, 13:50
Where can a pensioner get that overtime? get rid of these sangisugi and then government will have money to give to those in need!!! I think they were sleeping in hospital doing the payroll.
Joe Fenech
Dec 4th 2012, 13:50
Pseudo-democracy stunt. Talk when these people pay the money back, when politicians tell us about their links with business men.......
Mr Evan Camilleri
Dec 4th 2012, 13:43
Outsource as much as possible to the private industry and we will save lots of money!
A. Mifsud
Dec 4th 2012, 13:37
The payroll officer is accountable to who if I may ask? Who authorises (or rather audits) his overtime hours?
Kelvin Cortis
Dec 4th 2012, 13:36
Regarding the mention of RADIOGRAPHERS.
Sure - anyone expose to radiation is entitled to work 5 hours less per week.
These are professionals who get exposed to radiation for the benefit of third parties (PATIENTS). So they are taking a significant risk...for the benefit of others. In some other EUROPEAN places, these professionals get an extra TEN (10) days of vacation leave.
Brian Gatt
Dec 4th 2012, 16:19
They did not seem to mind to work in a radiation area when they were being paid overtime!!!
M Portelli
Dec 5th 2012, 07:12
B.Gatt its either that or the waiting time at MaterDei grows longer.The price they pay is burnout.They don't have much choice.Look at the implications if that department is short staffed I can just hear the hue and cry should the waiting time in A&E increase/more operations are held up because less radiographers can man the xray machines.That's a department that services alot of other departments.
m. borg (slm)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:35
Good causes fund: used belligrently befor the 2008 elections when all sorts on entities that were cropping up started getting aid.
Premier league football clubs were on the forefront with hugh aid packets.
Joe Scerri
Dec 4th 2012, 13:18
Year in year out the audit report highlights these obscenities paid from our taxes, but nothing is ever done, no heads roll and everything is swept under the carpet.
Charles Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 13:14
So, with the crystal clear evidence of this major fraud,are the consultant and the three nurses who received a "diving allowance"and the three clerks who received approximately Euro600 per WEEK in overtime payments going to be named???
Are these hospital workers together with the other consultants going to be made to stand trial for stealing from the public coffers??!
A. Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 13:06
This is very serious and somebody should shoulder responsability. It would be interesting if NAO could estimate total amount which could have been saved if proper controls were in place.
Alfred Fenech
Dec 4th 2012, 13:18
What does one expect, the PM pays himself and a few talenred ones, 500euros a week extra.
Paul Schembri
Dec 4th 2012, 12:55
Mr Johann Agius
Ghalli jista ikun int qed tghejx fill Qamar xqed tiprova tajt illi isiru dawk il hnizrejiet ta Flus il Poplu u il Ministru mhux responsabli u mghandux jirezenja kultant ninsa li qedin nejxu Malta u Mhux Zinbabwe
Johann Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 15:32
Mr Paul Schembri,
First of all we're in 2012 not pre-1987 when you couldn't talk in public.
If you have some common sense. Reason the following statement & tell me if am wrong.
How can the minister in charge know what was going on when the payroll officer was the one approving the overtime for all the staff.
Common sense tells me that i need to sack all payroll staff & the manager.
Brian Gatt
Dec 4th 2012, 16:23
@ Johann Agius,
The political repsonsibilty is something the minister has for the dept that fall under him. He should hire real proffesionals to run these entities with good salaries but accountable. Audits hould be carried out on a regular basis and if any irregularities crop up heads should roll. That is how we work in the private sector and that is how the Govt depts should be run.
G Schembri
Dec 5th 2012, 00:04
Mr Johann Agius any person in a managerial position should be held responsible for all his decisions, and for all the workers who fall under his management. A minister is not there to be called Your Honour and attend parties, then when something goes wrong he says he was looking the other way.
You are right this is not pre 1987, Mintoff would never have tolerated such practices.
P. Fenech
Dec 4th 2012, 12:55
One could have refurbished the run-down physiotherapy department at St. Luke's with a fraction of the money or better still build one !!
Mario Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 12:52
For me , this is a national disgrace , considering the austerity measures and sacrifices we all have to make . This is fraud on a national level and the sooner this is investigated by the appropriate authorities the better . And heads have to roll over this misappropriation of public funds , funds which I , you and every decent taxpayer contribute to . Totally disgusting .
Joanne Micallef
Dec 4th 2012, 12:50
This is simply outrages, the minister concerned should explain how, why and what will be done re this grave mismanagement. We the people must WAKE UP and ask for more accountability and a more responsible administration with our money.
Mr Adrian Zahra
Dec 4th 2012, 12:33
This has all the elements of organised fraud at the expense of us tax payers. As such it should be prosecuted accordingly NO IFS and NO BUTS. More so when now we are in a context whereby free healthcare is more often than not held in jeopardy by escalating costs. UTTERLY DISGRACEFUL.
Mr Sandro Cremona
Dec 4th 2012, 12:32
Maybe another 25 years of Gonzi PN government will solve this problem ? Politics is involved because the minister "Responsible of health" should be aware of thses things.
Johann Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 12:31
Rest assured that even if the PL is in government this kind of abuse will remain.
In this case we can see that all of the payroll department was abusing because the checks weren't there. Even the finance department is responsible for this because if you see that a person is getting twice as much his basic pay there's something funny and needed to be questioned.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:34
That's right... the checks weren't there but the cheques were. LoL!
And you are also right in that changing the party in government will not change the civil service.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:35
Well! Only some of the civil service.
Joe Grech
Dec 4th 2012, 14:42
You are just one of the P.B.C. (Politically Blinkered Commentators). How on earth do you know that ''even if the PL is in government this kind of abuse will remain''?
W. Cassar
Dec 4th 2012, 12:30
Disgusting!!
Who is responsible? I demand the government looks into this and heads role!
Another reason to vote this government OUT!
Francis Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 12:27
Korruzzjoni bil-pulit.
J Martinelli
Dec 4th 2012, 13:45
Francis, 'korruzzjoni bil-pulit', kieku l-NAO ma nhalaqx biex ikun jista jiskopri dawn l-abbuzi!
Issa naraw jekk dawn l-abbuzi jinqatghux jew le. La l-PM, la l-Ministru w lanqas hadd ma ghandu kontroll fuq individwi jekk jiddeciedu li jabbuzaw jew jiksru l-ligi.
Meta l-awdituri isibu dan l-abbuz, min hu hati jsofri l-konsegwenzi. Dan m'hu xejn hdejn is-serq ta propjetajiet li saru fil-passat.
Brian Gatt
Dec 4th 2012, 16:28
Martinelli,
Il-ministru ghandu risponsabilita Politika tad-dekasteru tieghu, barra min Malta politiku jirrezenja ghal-hafna inqas. Accountability is non Existinet within the GonziPn folds, ok so now please check you script to see how you can answer me back.
Joseph Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 12:24
The National Audit Office deserves our gratitude for this kind of report. However, the NAO can only do so much. We wait with bated breath to see what harsh steps the Ministers concerned and the Government will be taking and the publicity it will be giving these steps.
Johann Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 12:22
Why are people mentioning politics in this case?
It's the managers responsibility to see that there is no abuse. Just tell me how the PM can give you an answer on this. He can investigate the matter.
The PM's job is to run a country and he gives certain jobs to ministers and in turn they also hand over responsibilities. Ultimately the head of hr, the officer and the employees need to be sacked
M Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 12:32
because the managers are usually political appointees silly . . . . you really do think there isn't political affiliations at the root of this of course, and that someone will be sacked . .
Paul Micallef
Dec 4th 2012, 12:38
@Agius
Lets make a bet Mr Agius, you wanna bet that he is a PN supporter?????? Mela minnu fis sakra u min u mejjet ghal qatra. U jiena biex ma hallasnix overtime u danger money jeddli hu gurnata il-MANAGMENT imma ghalijhom hemm ta, iva minnu tal qalba jiekol u ahna insafru LGHAJDA.
W. Cassar
Dec 4th 2012, 12:46
Its the Health minister that is ultimately responsible and management..... they should all go. As a honorable gesture... but there are no such men in Malta now is there? Until we change this culture of its not my fault these things will be allowed to go on.
Eve Axiaq
Dec 4th 2012, 13:11
Allura sur Johann ha naraw min se jigi issospendut jew jirrizenja f'din il-haga. Jien nghidlek lanqas hadd u hemm tinduna li fl OPM hemm it-taghwig biex ma nghidx kelma ohra.
m. borg (slm)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:27
To whom the Hospital management answer to?
The minister, therefore it is political. This is not the first time the AG complained of mismanaged tax money yet it keeps happening year after year
Of course its political, money that could have been spent on medicinals went into greedy pockets, yet people have to endure medicine out of stock like yours truely.
A Cachia
Dec 4th 2012, 12:20
Ma kienux jaghmlu part time wkoll al jista jkun :)
Anthony Galea
Dec 4th 2012, 12:18
...And than Gonzi decided to tax minimium wage earners!! What a situtation we are in!
m. borg (slm)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:30
.... and gonzi has the temerity to ask PL where it will be getting the money.
I suggest posters to follow what RCC is making according to a parliamentary reply yesterday. He ain't fairing badly considering he is giving consultations "FREE of CHARGE"
Frans Aguis
Dec 4th 2012, 12:18
No one is responsible for this least of all the health minister. This is all the fault of the greedy workers.
Above is the talking point that is going to be hinted at or directly stated on both PBS and NetTV.
Wenzu Cole
Dec 4th 2012, 12:14
.... and this report is for 2011. I cannot imagine what it will look like for 2012
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 4th 2012, 12:04
I get sea sick reading this. Its a shame, and a diving license? For personal use and fun.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:25
Might they accompany a patient underwater when the decompression chamber is not available? In that case they need to be trained and be kept updated. Just wondering!
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 4th 2012, 14:17
Than why just for three nurses? I think more nurses should need a diving license if it's as you're saying, and why mysterious than?
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 16:51
Ms Amanda, I really don't know why they are surreptitious or discreet. Isn't that what you are suggesting?
Why would they need more than three trained medic-divers? We have a decompression chamber and nurses can be quickly called deployed to an emergency, even from home. What training do they get? Maybe we're both not understanding!
Johann Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 11:52
Some heads need to roll.
Assume clerks get paid €15000 per year that equal to €7.21 per hour. Overtime is paid at the rate of 1.5 times. So the clerks got paid on average €28700 divide by the overtime rate 7.21x1.5=10.81. The amount hours worked as overtime amount to 2655 hours in a year over the normal 40 hours a week. Head of HR needs to resign/sacked. He's responsible.
Mr Adrian Zahra
Dec 4th 2012, 12:38
That is they worked more in overtime than the normal hours which without leave, sick leave and public holidays adds up to 40*52=2080 hours. UTTER DISGRACE. THIS IS DEFINITELY FRAUD.
M Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 12:40
Mr Agius that works out to them working 5 days a week, 18 hours a day - no seriously, someone thinks that in 24 hours payroll at MDH work for 18 hours - you wouldn't know of course because the office is only open on certain days until 11:00am as clearly stated on the (usually closed) door - SHAME ON THE MANAGEMENT OF MDH AND SHAME ON THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT,
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 13:20
That's a total of 91 hours a week spent at their work place. Vacation time doesn't count ergo 48 weeks in the year.
Sundays/holidays are paid at double-time so it wouldn't really be 91 hours weekly. But do they only earn €7.21 hrly rate?
What is needed is a TECHNICAL audit not just a financial audit. And you just scraped the surface with your valid comment. Well done!
David Bonnici
Dec 4th 2012, 11:48
All this will be forgotten in a couple of days. Thats how this country works.
AND rest assured that if ever these people or any one in their family needs emergency treatment at Mater Dei they will be given 5 star service and no waiting in corridors.
josette hili
Dec 4th 2012, 12:38
I agree with you 100 %. Unfortunately that is how this country works.
Gustav Svensson
Dec 4th 2012, 11:44
I assume that each manager that is responsible will be fired, named and shamed.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 12:46
No Sir... they get performance bonuses.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 4th 2012, 15:00
IN FULL TOO!!
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 4th 2012, 11:41
Any heads rolling?
M Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 14:47
yours if you don't pay taxes of course!
Sean Swain
Dec 4th 2012, 11:38
Well done NAO, I seriously hope this money is paid back, and the individuals caught are named, shamed and jailed.
Disgusting behaviour, and a very serious offence.
Michel Ellul
Dec 4th 2012, 11:35
This article is a proof that after all Mrs Dalli was right in what she said and should also applied at Mater Dei as well...
David Hill
Dec 4th 2012, 11:30
If the payroll department had that much work then they should be employing a couple of extra staff.
A Vella
Dec 4th 2012, 11:25
Isn't the job of top management to prevent his from happening? If yes, that means that were not doing their job and appropriate action should be taken against. As to the people who abused the system, how can they do so in no shame? If I were the minister I would name and shame each individual involved in these thefts.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 12:42
A Vella, theft is too harsh. It could be opportunism, if they actually attended those hours.
WSC generally turn up after hours too, for example. So they get paid overtime [yes?]. But could the repair have been done in the course of the day's work?
Payroll is different; computers take no time whereas input does. Hospital mismanagement perhaps or do these clerks have additional duties?
Joseph Micallef
Dec 4th 2012, 11:24
GonziPN ma jafx jisthi. Ha nghidlu jien minn fejn se jgib Dr. Muscat il-flus sabiex irahhas il-kontijiet tad-dawl. MINN DIN IL-HELA u SERQ se jgib il-flus Dr. Muscat!
Godfrey James Cassar Simmonds
Dec 4th 2012, 12:58
Yes diving for the money. Can I get a transfer to MDH as from tomorrow please?
Jason Coleiro
Dec 4th 2012, 11:23
diving?
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 4th 2012, 11:21
This has ALWAYS been the PN legacy. ALWAYS! Squandering tax payer money to the four winds. And they have the AUDACITY to ask the country to keep them in government! Ma tal BIZA! These are the things which which every tax payer should know about this Government when they are called to vote.
C Chircop
Dec 4th 2012, 12:02
I will ask you a clear question. Have these things ever happened whenever PL was in power? Were there any irregularities in the public service pre-1987? My stance is not to point fingers at PL but to indicate that these things have been happening irrespective of which party is in power. It is time to draw a line and for any current and future government to curb such abuse.
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 4th 2012, 15:49
@C Chircop
I will give you a clear and equivocal answer. I won't say these things never happened during PL BUT these things are the true hallmarks of ever PN Legislature leaving huge deficits to the detriment of the honest taxpayer.
Joseph Grech Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 11:19
And we have doubts about a corrupt administration? This has been going on for quite some time, I presume, & it only shows the tip of the iceberg. What is the reaction of GonziPN? It all shows how right is Franco Debono! They should be compared to the enormous salaries of certain individuals in Austin Gatt's entourage! This is what is contributing to our debt - corruption and lack of transparency!
Joseph N. Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 11:19
This is something that Simon Busuttil should get involved in very quickly. Sweeping everything under the carpet would only result in more disgruntled voters and lost sheep.
Mr Richard Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 08:36
Name them and shame them! Why are names never supplied (at least in the press I normally read) when these sort of things are reported? 80,000 euros is no joke except to the person pocketing them.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 4th 2012, 11:17
Overtime is always subject to abuse. There is supposed to be a weekly capping. Decades ago, among other duties, I did payroll for about 300. With only pen and paper, it was very engaging and took all Friday morning to work dues and deductions. Payroll software now does this with minimal input. Why is ANY overtime needed? Incompetence or opportunism?
Ministers will reply, no doubt.
A. Borg
Dec 4th 2012, 11:15
Meta naqra artikli bhal dawn iktar insahhah l-opinjoni li ghandi li f'Malta mhux kemm taf imma lil min taf !
Ghandi neputija awditura li tkissret l-Universita tistudja u llum igradwata u tahdem ma kumpanija ewlenija f'Malta lanqas taqbad in-nofs ta l-overtime li qalgha dak in-nurse !
John Cutajar
Dec 4th 2012, 11:14
If employees are not working, means that the employer is not working either...
John Scerri
Dec 4th 2012, 11:11
Mismanagement of tax payers' money is a very serious.
Those responsible must be investigated and must carry the responsibility , starting with the finance ministry.
The Finance Minister relies on information given to him by his subordinates who in turn compile data from various sources , who in turn should question abnormal data entries.
If heads need to roll than ...SO BE IT .
Angelo Baldacchino
Dec 4th 2012, 11:51
off with their heads!
Eve Axiaq
Dec 4th 2012, 11:09
They should be suspended immediately starting with the officer in charge of overtime. Serq u serq bil-barka.
shara Gauci
Dec 4th 2012, 11:07
What a shame!!! And police officers that really worked those extra hours did get nothing, there where cases that such police officers had to be paid more than 60,000 in arrears from 1993.
A. Borg
Dec 4th 2012, 11:19
Like the majority of ex-Police officers I will never forget this when a few weeks more I will cast my vote !
Russell Fenech
Dec 4th 2012, 11:21
Who told you that they didnt work those hours?
L. Chircop
Dec 4th 2012, 13:02
Iddahkx nies bik Russell ''Who told you that they didnt work those hours?'' qed tistaqsi ghidli inti min u fejn ittela 30 elf euro f'overtime??? hallina trid
Adrian Gouder
Dec 4th 2012, 11:02
€35,000 just on overtime for an officer, and €28,000 in overtime for a clerk!!! What are these people doing?? I really do hope an investigation will shed some light on this.
marcus bonello
Dec 4th 2012, 10:54
..........................And who approves all this?....May I ask?
M. Agius
Dec 4th 2012, 11:14
"The officer in charge of authorising and certifying overtime at Mater Dei Hospital “happened to receive” the highest amount for overtime. She clocked up more than €35,000 in extra payments, according to the NAO."
Thats who approves overtime, including her own at Mater Dei. The Times could easily find out who she is.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 4th 2012, 12:29
There must have been some other superior officer.
Irene Forster
Dec 4th 2012, 10:53
Surely someone should be made responsible within the hospital management for this state of affairs?
Ivan M. Dingli
Dec 4th 2012, 10:52
Disgusting to say the least!!
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 4th 2012, 10:40
"payroll officer got €35,000 in overtime"
no comment
Esmerelda Azzopardi
Dec 4th 2012, 12:18
i agree with you i wonder our payroll is always with mistakes...
Peter Sullivan
Dec 4th 2012, 10:38
The NAO found that four employees in the payroll office – three of them clerks – earned an average of €28,700 each for overtime in 2011.
That's a whopping €114,800 !!!
Wouldn't it have been far cheaper to employ extra staff, even on part time basis to handle the payroll. And why in the first place are they so understaffed in this particular department ???
Justin Spiteri
Dec 4th 2012, 10:37
This really demotivates me from paying my taxes....
Joseph Bajada
Dec 4th 2012, 10:31
I can't believe it that an island that small should have 23 local councils , imagine each one duplicating the resources which could all be done by about 5 councils, which in turn would cut costs and reduce passage,
I live in Australia and the council i live in - Blacktown - has 214 square kilometres and 324,000 residents,
Keith Davis
Dec 4th 2012, 17:41
So true, we complain about resources but its the government that throws our resources into the drain!
Why do we have 65 members of parliament, and not less?
That means we've got 1 for every 6,200 residents, when our neighbouring country like Italy has 1 for each 63,000 residents..
Why don't we have just 5 regional councils with more staff in using the same resources instead of local councils?
Francis Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 10:29
I. Bugeja, are you serious? The lady in charge of authorizing and certifying overtime 'happened to receive the highest amount of overtime. And she doesn't have a clue and can't operate a PC, you said? Now work that one out!
I Bugeja
Dec 4th 2012, 14:01
I am serious but the one i am refering to does the wages for the theatre nurses. Sometimes they get more and sometimes they get less!
I don't know if she is the same person who got the thousands in overtime but she surely makes plenty of mistakes on her job!
Mr J Xerri
Dec 4th 2012, 10:22
An outstanding certificate of Government inefficient management of the taxes we pay
Jeffrey Mallia
Dec 4th 2012, 10:19
No wonder why we are at 5000 MILLION euro in debt !! And that's the tip of the iceberg.
D. Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 13:36
That's equal to 5 Billion... How is that the tip of the iceberg? What do you mean?
Joseph Attard
Dec 4th 2012, 10:11
Aktar minn €28000 overtime f'sena? Peress li l-hin kollu miftuin biex jaqdu lil haddiema !
effie stafrace
Dec 4th 2012, 09:46
and then someone tells us from where the pl is going to finance the reduction of water and electricity bills.
Steven Brockwell
Dec 4th 2012, 10:04
yes dam right and all we got was a 4 euro a week wage rise, cause it is a responsible budget ???????????????
Mark Demicoli
Dec 4th 2012, 10:13
well said!
Peter Murray
Dec 4th 2012, 09:25
In the case of consultants having to pay back their overpayments -why in monthly installments ?Why did they accept such obvious overpayments in the first instance without saying anything or offering to return it immediately?
I Bugeja
Dec 4th 2012, 09:34
Because the people doing the wages have no clue on how to do them - apparently the woman doing the wages for nurses still collects all the information on papers and does not know how to use a computer!!!!
This is 100% true.
Ahseb u ara.
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