The former head of an NHS trust at the centre of a Clostridium difficile (C difficile) scandal is set to reject a pay-off of up to £75,000, it has emerged.
Last year, Rose Gibb left Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust by mutual agreement after a damning report revealed appalling hygiene standards directly contributed to 90 deaths.
Since then the trust has confirmed that she would receive half her annual salary as a pay-off, adding that her annual wage had been between £145,000 and £150,000.
The announcement was seen as a blow to Health Secretary Alan Johnson, who stepped into the row and ordered that the trust should withhold Ms Gibb’s severance payment while seeking legal advice.
But now her union, Managers In Partnership (MiP), said that Ms Gibb will continue to fight for the full amount, understood to be up to £150,000.
MiP chief executive Jon Restell said: “Each case depends on its own circumstances and it is not easy to comment generally on severance payments.
“In Rose Gibb’s case, our lawyers have advised us that Rose is entitled to the full sum originally determined by the trust.
“As a trade union our job is to support our members both collectively and individually and we will continue to support Rose’s case.”
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Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
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“Yes she does. Although the buck stops with her, she thought she had employed staff who would supervise hygiene and cleanliness issues on her behalf.” – Name and contact details supplied
