NHS chief "shows off" on Twitter about buying new boat
THE chief executive of Gloucestershire's 2gether NHS Foundation Trust has been showing off his new boat on Twitter – as hundreds of staff are facing possible pay reviews.
Shaun Clee, who is also chairman of the Mental Health Network, took to the social network site to tell of his new purchase during a trip to Cornwall.
Mr Clee, who lives in Worcester, started the exchange with: "Round-trip to St Austell, sea trial resulted in a new boat – oops!"
Tim Coupland, an NHS worker in Gloucestershire, replied: "As in the purchase of a new boat?"
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"I am afraid I have to plead guilty," replied Mr Clee, who described it as a fast day boat for inshore or river fishing.
Ellen Clee asked to see a photo of the new purchase. She replied: "We were hoping for something we could holiday on! Where is it going to live?"
The Twitter exchange was open to all twitter users including his 393 followers, some of them NHS employees. The gaff stunned workers who face an anxious few months to discover if they will be affected by a proposed shake-up.
The Trust is one of 19 across the south west to sign-up to a consortium reviewing staff pay conditions. NHS bosses hope to reduce staffing costs by 2013. All staff earning more than £21,000 could face a pay cut, with less leave and weekend and bank holiday pay.
The amount of sickness pay and unsociable hours rates could also be slashed with more performance-related pay.
Staff could be made redundant and forced to sign new terms of employment if they fail to agree to the proposals.
Chris Moore, co-ordinator for Stroud Against The Cuts, said he thought the comments were an outrageous show of arrogance from management.
"At a time when NHS staff are being told their pay and conditions are under attack, it is outrageous that management can behave in this way. It shows a complete arrogance of management. I believe they are putting their own interests before the interests of staff and patients at the NHS," he said.
A 2gether Trust worker told The Citizen many employees were aware of Mr Clee's account and were unhappy about some of its content.
"To me it seems insulting to people who follow him," he said. "I believe it shows a degree of poor judgment.
"Staff want a leader who they can look up to and admire. People are absolutely incensed. You shouldn't put it in other people's faces. It's not the right as a leader."
A spokesman for the 2gether Trust said: "The timing of the message on Mr Clee's personal twitter feed was regretful as we appreciate staff have ongoing concerns around our membership of the pay consortium. There are no formal proposals for us to consider and we are committed to continuing our work with our staff side representatives to discuss any issues we may want to consider."
Comments
by TheNub
Tuesday, August 14 2012, 10:35AM
“he might have bought this boat off the back of a lottery win ? there again as a manager working for the nhs he gets a lottery win every week his wage packet .”
by GoMiG
Monday, August 13 2012, 1:41PM
“If you are prepared to accept a salary of £145k a year and choose to use the social network media to boast of latest acquisitions, then he has to accept the consequences of his actions. As it has been highlighted on numerous times, it is not the fact that he has made such a purchase, it is in the current climate of asking his staff to accept changes to terms and conditions due to the economic austerity measures being implemented.
Many public figures find themselves in the same situation and respond in person to allegations levelled against them. However, the arrogance that he is perceived to display is reflected in this article, and his lack of social awareness of the plight of his staff. For a leading member of a mental and social healthcare trust, he shows a considerable lack of insight!”
by Bonkim2003
Monday, August 13 2012, 1:10PM
“GoMiG - why should he comment on such repeated junk?”
by GoMiG
Monday, August 13 2012, 12:45PM
“I still find it interesting that even after 3 weeks of this story breaking and 152 comments, that the man himself has still not chosen to make a public statement, either whether to acknowledge that he may have made an error in his judgement (not the make and model of boat but the fact that he was boasting about it), or to deny that he felt he did anything wrong.
How can it be that so many of the national newspapers thought this was print worthy, and yet Mr Clee is still silent on the matter?”
by Internezzo
Sunday, August 12 2012, 2:53PM
“"That point is somewhat lost though having accusations, being called fascist and told to keep ones opinion to ones self - would that be be like being accused of being Clee's best mate and having mental health problems, A_Minion?
'He displayed poor judgement in 'showing off'
This is about him and his poor judgement - end of.
You sound just like the '2gether Trust worker who told The Citizen many employees were aware of Mr Clee's account and were unhappy about some of its content.
"To me it seems insulting to people who follow him," he said. "I believe it shows a degree of poor judgment"
Like I said, it was you.”
by A_Minion
Sunday, August 12 2012, 2:23PM
“More than happy to hear other points of view
That point is somewhat lost though having accusations, being called fascist and told to keep ones opinion to ones self
He displayed poor judgement in 'showing off'
This is about him and his poor judgement - end of”
by Internezzo
Sunday, August 12 2012, 12:47PM
“Provoking an argument by not agreeing with A_Minion is what you mean. Calling NHSers NHSers is easier to type. If we're talking disparagement I read here that I know Shaun Clee and have mental health issues because if I disagree with you those things must be true. Shaun Clee got excited at getting a boat, well how dare he when he should have consulted with employees to see if they minded? Not agreeing with the envious backlash over this storm in a teacup is my freedom of speech.”
by briansboats
Sunday, August 12 2012, 12:14PM
“Yes, freedom of speech is very important.”
by A_Minion
Sunday, August 12 2012, 11:47AM
“There are two things I'm really unsure of one is why Internezzo is trying so hard just to provoke an argument and the other is why they speak so disparagingly about those that work in the NHS.
Referring to them as NHS'ers as if that's some sort of bad thing.
Seems some what odd given that these are the people that work hard to care for you and yours when your sick, frightened, distressed or in need.
Mr Clee seeks to cut the numbers of these staff, but maintains or increases the number of people in managerial roles - bit pointless - but who am I to discuss that
He brought a boat - so what
He gloated about it - bad taste/poor judgement
Maybe he should refer to the code of conduct set out by the NMC with regard to the use of social networking?
"Protect your own privacy. Think through what kinds of information you want share and with whom, and adjust your privacy settings. Remember that the more your personal life is exposed through social networking sites, the more likely it is that this could have a negative impact."”
by Internezzo
Sunday, August 12 2012, 10:12AM
“Shaun Clee spent his own money unless you know different? Was he supposed to survey thousands of staff first?”