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Monday, November 03, 2008, 09:05
It is understood the staff had been receiving two pay packets — one from Torbay Council and one from Torbay Care Trust — after their jobs were transferred from the council to the health authority.
The care trust say the 'pay irregularity' was discovered at some point in the summer of 2007 and after an internal investigation 'robust' action was taken and the three members of staff were all dismissed in February 2008.
It is not known how long the staff were receiving the double wages for before they were discovered or whether they continued working and received any pay while the investigation was being carried out.
Deputy mayor of Torbay Kevin Carroll, who found out about the pay discrepancy on Friday, has now called for an inquiry into the matter.
The Torbay Care Trust was formed at the end of 2005 but staff were transferred from the council over a number of months and it is not known when the staff members in question became employees of the care authority.
A Torbay Care Trust spokesman said: "Investigations were carried out within the last 18 months after irregularities were identified within the pay of a small number of staff, following a change of employment from Torbay Council to Torbay Care Trust.
"These investigations resulted in disciplinary proceedings and three members of staff were subsequently dismissed.
"There has been no impact on services or patient care as a result of these cases and appropriate steps are being taken to recover any outstanding funds."
The care trust and Torbay Council said they were unable to give any further details of the matter at this stage.
Cllr Carroll said: "I have been made aware of the matter. I am told the care trust took the relevant actions.
"I have asked for an inquiry to make sure nothing untoward happened on our side.
"We will get the relevant information. I found out on Friday but hopefully we will have the full facts by the early part of this week.
"The staff have now been removed from the trust and I understand it was discovered 18 months ago. I do not know when they were transferred to the care trust but will do within the next few days.
"I have called for an inquiry from my point of view and the council's.
"I am told they have been asked to repay the money to the care trust."
Cllr Carroll said he was shocked to hear of the incident.
He added: "This has only hit me today and I am still trying to find out what has happened.
"I am surprised we were not told and I am surprised it has happened. I really can't say anything else until I've found out the full facts I don't know how long this was going on for.
"It is a concern and I will get to the bottom of it."
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