The Welsh NHS has come under fire for recruiting an ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion’ on an eyewatering salary despite recently being found ‘financially unsustainable’.
The Champion will earn £105,504 - £139,882 per annum pro rata, funded by Welsh taxpayers. They will be required to work ‘four sessions per week’, but it is unclear how many hours this entails.
That money could cover the salary of five new nurses, assuming the Champion started at the upper end of the advertised scale.
The job’s roles include:
- “Contribute to and lead where appropriate, equality, diversity and inclusive focused national workshops and events.”
- “Provide clinical guidance, advice and support from an equality, diversity and inclusion perspective.”
And these are some of the desired skills:
- “The ability to develop effective working relationships.”
- “The proven ability to listen, empower and lead by example and lead through change.”
- “The ability to work under pressure and to remain professional and to expected behaviour standards despite challenging circumstances.”
Helen Fawcett, who lives in Monmouthshire in southeast Wales, said: “I’m incredulous over this NHS job.
“The Welsh NHS under Labour are in crisis. There are dreadful ambulance waiting times, my 103-year-old mother had to wait 13 hours for an ambulance following a fall with a broken hip.
“They’re closing the Minor Injuries Unit in Brecon Hospital. Waiting lists for treatment are spiraling.
“Given the crisis this huge salary would be better spent on the basics!”
Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Welsh taxpayers will be shocked by the huge sums of money available for equality and diversity jobs.
“Women’s health issues are vitally important, and this money would be far better spent on the front line of our health service.
“Women, and indeed all patients in Wales, need more doctors and nurses in our health service, not more equality and diversity officers.”
Andrew RT Davies said: “All patients in Wales need more doctors and nurses in our health service, not more equality and diversity officers.”
PANews of the Champion’s huge salary comes after the NHS in Wales was found to be financially unsustainable in the latest audit of its finances.
Adrian Crompton, auditor general at Audit Wales, said: “Whilst I recognise the scale of the financial and operational challenges faced by the NHS, I am concerned all seven Health Boards have failed to meet the statutory duty to break even over three years.
“The growing cumulative deficit for the NHS in Wales demonstrates that despite record levels of investment and higher than ever levels of savings, the statutory framework put in place by the Welsh Government to drive financial sustainability in the NHS is not working.
“Whilst there remains an urgent need for NHS bodies to continue to drive out cost inefficiencies in the way they work, this alone is unlikely to return the NHS to financial balance.”
The Welsh NHS, which has been run by Labour since devolution began in 1999, has been criticised for its poor performance compared to England, particularly over waiting times.
The average wait in Wales for hospital treatment after referral is 21.8 weeks compared to 14.9 in England. In Wales, 21 per cent of people on waiting lists wait over a year for treatment, compared to 4 per cent in England.
Before entering office, Keir Starmer claimed Wales was his 'blueprint' for government. He has since refused to repeat the claim.
Auditor General Crompton added: “More fundamental challenges now need to be grasped around the shape and infrastructure of the Welsh NHS, the level of funding it needs, its workforce challenges and how the demand for its services can be better managed.
“These are issues that should exercise the minds of politicians, government officials and NHS bodies and their partners in equal measure.”
This comes after Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan clashed with Welsh NHS Confederation director Darren Hughes after she said she would hold them to account over long waiting lists.
Hughes said: “The first minister knows all too well from her time as cabinet secretary for health and social care that the NHS is treating more people than ever before and that there are a range of factors impacting on the rate of elective recovery."
Referencing the chronic issues in social care causing bed blocking in hospitals, Hughes said: “It is like trying to run the NHS with one hand tied behind your back.”
