THE HSE AND some staff in Co Donegal are on a collision course over expenses during the Big Chill.
Donegaldaily.com has learned that nursing and other staff at Letterkenny General Hospital and other health care facilities in the county are insisting the HSE pay for meals, taxis and other expenses incurred during the severe weather.
Some staff slept in the hospital rather than risk travelling. Others were put up in B&Bs and hotels, paid for by the HSE.
Now some of them have slapped in expenses claims for meals and other expenses.
This has caused a massive row within Letterkenny General staff, with some people insisting colleagues should not be allowed to claim for some of the expenses.
One insider said: “Some people think that because they were away from home they are entitled to reimbursement for meals whilst they were at work. But just because they didn’t travel home doesn’t mean they should have meals paid for, meals they would have had anyway if they had been travelling to and from work.
“The issue has divided staff.”
And it is set to put some members of staff on a collision course with the cash-strapped Health Service Executive as the total bill is understood to run to thousands of euro.
If the HSE pays out, it will take cash away from healthcare.
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