Hospital CEO’s wage warning
The situation, which means the HSE has threatened to stop paying the senior official’s €136,282 public salary over the affair, emerged after a three-and-a-half hour hospital board meeting yesterday.
Under drastic plans agreed in principle but unlikely to be ratified until early next week, St Vincent’s has been told the taxpayer-funded salary for current group CEO Nicky Jermyn will cease if the €156,587 in extra top-ups do not stop.
This includes a €136,591 second salary from the private sector and a €19,796 annual “car allowance” — neither of which are approved by the HSE or Department of Health.
The hospital group refused to do this, and will instead continue to fund Mr Jermyn’s near-€300,000 income entirely from its private medical wing.
In addition to the expected move, Mr Jermyn will also be told he must step down as CEO of the public St Vincent’s University Hospital. However, sources stressed the he will continue as group CEO of St Vincent’s and remain as the head of the organisation’s private wing.
The plans, which were discussed by the St Vincent’s board yesterday, were put forward by HSE director general Tony O’Brien during a “comprehensive” meeting with hospital officials on Thursday.
Mr O’Brien is due to receive an update on the matter during a second meeting on Tuesday, at which point the financial switch will be confirmed. It is unclear who will be asked to step in to replace Mr Jermyn at the head of the public St Vincent’s University Hospital.
Discussions are continuing to take place within St Vincent’s over six other individuals who are also in receipt of top-up payments.
They include the group’s finance director, Cormac Maloney, who receives a €140,876-a-year public salary and a €32,544 top-up; and its nursing director, Prof Mary Duff, who gets a €96,405 public salary and a €14,853 top-up.
St Vincent’s officials will be grilled by the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee on Thursday.
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