Hospital bosses offered freebies
FOOTBALL BOXES, TRIPS AND FOOD ON REGISTER OF GIFTS
A PREMIER league football box ticket, Amazon vouchers and Jamaican patties have all been offered to top hospital bosses.
The register of gifts, sponsorship and hospitality for NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has revealed that directors and managers were offered freebies such as a rechargeable phone tech kit and a weekend away - but refused them.
Accepting the gifts, they said, would be a conflict of interests. But a ‘selection of Jamaican patties’ as a thank you gift from businessman Wade Lyn CBE were accepted by chief clinical officer Ian Wilkinson following a ministerial visit.
Former managing director Denis Gizzi turned down a ticket for a corporate box at Liverpool, offered by a consultancy firm, stating it was ‘contrary to CCG policy.’
Andrew Vance, a governing body member, declared that he received between £200 and £1,000 for presentations made on behalf of Janssen and other pharmaceutical companies. This, he said, was ‘to support colleagues in education and developing quality workforce within the NHS.’
Mr Vance accepted a flight to San Diego and accommodation, funded by Janssen for £1,970, to attend clinical trial presentations.
Chief finance officers Julie Daines and Ben Galbraith both declined an invitation from a consulting firm for a CEO dinner and round-table discussion in London. Ms Daines also rejected a £250 Amazon Voucher.
Clinical director Zuber Ahmed refused a gift voucher worth £45 in exchange for an interview with a market research company as a ‘matter of principle.’
A spokesperson for the commissioning group said: “Gifts and hospitality would usually be declined if offered by a supplier with whom the CCG does business and/or exceeds threshold limits for acceptance, as identified in the CCG policy.” They added that exmanaging director Mr Gizzi ‘appropriately declared any offers made to him in line with the CCG policy.’