HSE defends €80,000 bonus for Drumm

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has defended its decision to award its chief executive an €80,000 bonus less than a fortnight after ordering a spending freeze in all hospitals and health facilities.

Professor Brendan Drumm received the performance-related payment on top of his €360,000 annual pay packet just days after the HSE issued a statement denying it was seeking approval to increase his salary.

The bonus was awarded despite the HSE’s admission that it was running over-budget and needed to impose major restrictions on spending including a ban on hospitals and clinics recruiting new staff, replacing staff leaving the service, arranging illness or maternity cover or bringing back staff who are due to return from career breaks or study or maternity leave.