Anger over M&S vouchers

Hospital bosses have spent £70,000 dishing out shopping vouchers to staff at Stafford and Cannock hospitals, it has been revealed.

But the move by the cash-strapped health trust has sparked some fury.

The £25 Marks & Spencer vouchers were given to 3,000 staff by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust after it was granted foundation status on Friday February 1.

The trust today defended the scheme saying it was a "gesture of appreciation" to the staff for their hard work and efforts involved in getting foundation status.

The Express & Star has been told a number of workers have refused to accept the vouchers and returned them to the trust.

The gift by the trust has sparked anger after recent changes at Cannock Hospital including the closure of Littleton Ward and a reorganisation of the hospital which will save £500,000.

Stafford Councillor Barry Stamp said: "I think it is good to recognise the hard work of staff but it is unacceptable to spend £70,000 on shopping vouchers when the trust is closing some of its facilities. That money could well have been used for the care of patients."

Martin Yeates, chief executive of the trust, said: "The board of directors decided to award every member of staff a £25 Marks & Spencer voucher as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work and dedication during exceptional circumstances over the last couple of years.

He added: "During that time they have had to face a considerable number of changes and challenges, not least of which was our need to reduce spending by £10million during 2006-07.

"In the last year staff have coped with a record number of patients and, at the same time, they have had to do a tremendous amount of extra work to provide information needed to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

"The cost of the vouchers should be balanced against a total annual wage bill for the trust of £79 million."

Mr Yeates said the vouchers were a "modest" way of recognising the work of the staff which he described as an "asset."

He also said that in the past the trust had given staff an extra day off but this would cost £300,000.

Mr Yeates added: "We believe firmly that this gesture is the right thing to do in recognition of the supreme efforts that our staff have made over the last two years."

Any returned vouchers are to be used in staff awards which are given to nominated individuals every month.