HEALTH bosses have refused to say how much tax payers money they have given to a controversial former chief executive in a secret payout.
Sheila Foley walked out of her £100,000 job at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT) last year hours before the publication of a damning report.
She later lodged an unfair dismissal claim and age discrimination against the trust and regional health bosses at NHS North West.
Now the M.E.N. has learnt Ms Foley has withdrawn the claim from Manchester Employment Tribunal after coming to terms with the trusts.
MMHSCT and NHS North West have refused to reveal the details of the financial settlement.
Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer asked the Department of Health how much had been paid to Ms Foley in a written question in the Commons but was told it was 'confidential.'
Secret
He said: “This is public money there is no case whatsoever for keeping that payment a secret.
“It is my view she should not have been paid anything. It is outrageous that the Department of Health are not giving us the details of the payment.”
Ms Foley was given a temporary job heading up the trust in March 2007 and the job was made permanent in January last year.
She took on the role as chief executive as a 'troubleshooter' to sort out Manchester's psychiatric services and resolved financial problems which had dogged the trust for years.
But she sparked controversy by
sacking union rep Karen Reissmann for speaking to the media - leading to months of strike action.
Mr Stringer said: “What was the cost to the public purse of the financial settlement reached between the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust and its former chief executive.”
Confidential
Health minister Ann Keen responded: “The information requested in relation to the financial settlement between Manchester Mental Health and Social Care National Health Service Trust and its former chief executive is confidential.”
Ms Foley, from Liverpool, stunned colleagues when she walked out of the job the day before a damning report criticised poor working relationships and a lack of effective communication.
A spokeswoman for Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust said: “Sheila Foley left our employment in 2008.
“The parties are satisfied that the dispute between them has been resolved and the Employment Tribunal proceedings are at an end, by agreement being reached to their mutual satisfaction.
“No further comment will be made by all parties in this matter other than as required by prevailing legislation and statute.”
A spokeswoman for NHS North West said she had nothing to add on the matter.
The M.E.N. has not been able to contact Ms Foley.
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I thought this kind of information was available under the freedom of information act, after all it's our money they are giving away
It should be there under the FOI act.
It obviously doesn't pay to be honest in the NHS. Sack one for telling the truth and reward another for incompetence and under-handedness.
This matter is a private employment matter between an employee and an employer. All such matters are confidential. That the employer is a public sector body makes no difference as to whether any of the details need to be made public. Mr Stringer should stop stirring this up. In my view he is simply trying to make cheap political capital and in the knowledge that the parties cannot comment further.
So this woman however much she received has been rewarded for failure. Little wonder this country is in such a bankrupt state when public money is squandered like this.
Her salary was actually 130K a year, it was increased from 100K (presumably without her even being asking for it) because she was thought to have been such an outstanding candidate for the post...such is the way tax payers money is used. She has now cost the tax payer even more by her award and the money that had to be paid to Karen Reissmann after she sacked her. Nice work.
Is it the usual hush money, just in case. As you were.
Its not a secret payout its a settlement, i was given one by my ex-employers just before i took them to a tribunal but i had to sign a letter stating that i would not discuss the issue except with family. she has been offered the same. This headline is just designed to get people to read it.
robert, the initiatives started by Mrs. Foley when in post have now saved the CareTrust £3m a year in operating costs and improved the quality of care for all mental health patients in Manchester including those constituents of Mr. Stringer. As a taxpayer I am grateful to her. Oh and if you want the CareTrust to say how much they paid Mrs Foley, why not ask them to tell us how much they paid Ms. Reissmann?
Yes politically damaged, it should all be open in the public exactly what Ms Foley and Ms Reissmann received, especially in the public sector. That is the only way that people become accountable for their actions and decisions. Not sure about Ms Foleys 'successes' though......you're on shakier ground there.
Just because it's a public purse doesn't mean it doesn't fall under the same employment law and rules as any other organisation. If Vera the admin assistant from the solicitors on the corner was offered a settlement before going to an employer tribunal by her company would you expect to be made aware of how much it was just because you had used them when writing your will and buying your new house i.e. your money may have been used to pay it?!?!?!?!
Get a grip!
100k a year job!!!!!!!! can i have one please i promise not to go sick because of stress and if i get sacked i wont disclose anything honest!!!!!
Stu it Right: "If Vera the admin assistant from the solicitors on the corner was offered a settlement before going to an employer tribunal by her company would you expect to be made aware of how much it was just because you had used them when writing your will and buying your new house i.e. your money may have been used to pay it?!?!?!?!"
That's not a valid comparison. In the case of a solicitor, you are solely a customer. When it comes to the public sector, you are both the customer and the employer. You also don't have any choice in the matter.
Manchester City Council are in Partnership with Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. Humans being humans maybe when it comes to power they can never keep their eyes and hands out of each others filing cabinets. So maybe there is any secrets.
There are many in many working institutions that have never been brave enough to grow any you know what.
Walked out of her £100,000 job at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT) last year hours before the publication of a damning report.
So were is the unfair dismissal claim?
She walked.
She deserves nowt!