In the States on Tuesday Deputy Pryke said that the total cost of the consultant’s suspension was £732,000, which included the cost of locum cover, salary costs, legal fees and the costs to date of the independent Verita investigation. Without the locum cost, the amount goes down to £505,000.
She said that she hoped Mr Day’s disciplinary process would be over as soon as possible and that the amount paid so far was ‘scandalous to the taxpayers, the consultant’s employers and the family of the patient who died.’ She also confirmed that he had not faced any charges even though the court case surrounding the death of Elizabeth Rourke ended in January.
Mr Day has been suspended on full pay since the death of Mrs Rourke during a routine operation two and a half years ago. He was not in theatre at the time of the death in October 2006, but the operation was conducted by his department. Locum registrar Dr Dolores Moyano Ontiveros was cleared of manslaughter in January after complications developed during the operation.
