The SEB has come under heavy criticism following the termination of the contract of Dr Amar Alwitry. It was branded as ‘one of the worst examples’ of a public authority ‘disregarding’ contract law in a recent report by the States Complaints Board.
Now St Helier Deputy Mike Higgins will ask States Members to support a vote of no confidence in the SEB following the recent report.
The SEB is chaired by Chief Minister Ian Gorst. Treasury Minister Alan Maclean and Health Minister Andrew Green also sit on the panel alongside Constables Michel Le Troquer and Juliette Gallichan.
The contract of eye surgeon Dr Alwitry was terminated days before he was due to start work, with senior managers citing a ‘breakdown’ in the relationship between them and the doctor.
Dr Alwitry claimed that his job offer from the Ophthalmology Department was withdrawn in 2012 because he raised concerns about patient safety relating to his work schedule.
Two damning reports from the SCB panel have criticised the way the case was handled and said the surgeon should be compensated.
In his proposition, Deputy Higgins said that the SEB’s attempts to justify the ‘grossly unfair and shabby’ termination of Dr Alwitry’s contract were the reason he had decided to lodge no-confidence vote.Deputy Higgins also cited the cases of John Day, a former hospital consultant obstetrician, Simon Bellwood, a former social worker, and the former States police chief Graham Power, saying that all had been ‘appallingly treated and denied natural justice’.
