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6 months ago
27
A bungling NHS health board in Wales accidentally paid more than £100,000 in additional wages to staff - and now wants them to pay the money back or work for free.
Just over a dozen members of theatre staff at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil received payments varying between £5,000 to more than £30,000 each.
They believed they were eligible for the extra cash because of planned shift pattern changes and so were given what is known as 'pay protection'.
These payments are provided to top up an employee's average earnings in situations where they may become disadvantaged because of organisational changes.
The new shift pattern changes began in January and when gaps arose in staffing, the employees worked overtime shifts.
Theatre staff at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil received payments varying between £5,000 to more than £30,000 each - but are now being asked to repay the money or work overtime for free
However, according to health board officials, employees cannot receive pay protection while working overtime.
WalesOnline understands staff members have been given two options to return the money, by either paying it back in full, or working overtime without being paid.
Affected staff are said to be feeling very distressed by the situation.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, which looks after health services for 450,000 people living in Merthyr Tydfil, alongside Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: 'We are aware that for some of our theatres staff at Prince Charles Hospital, a payment in lieu of shift pattern changes has been processed incorrectly.
'As soon as this mistake was identified, we prioritised talking with those affected, as well as their trade union representatives, to find a way forward.
'We fully appreciate the impact that this payment error has had on individuals, and as such, we have involved colleagues in every step of this ongoing conversation.
'We have conducted an investigation into this matter, and have already taken steps to minimise the risk of a similar occurrence.'
MailOnline has approached Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board for further comment.
Staff believed they were eligible for pay protection because of planned shift changes, but health board officials said they could not receive this while also working overtime (file pic)
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