News
Health board bosses have 10% pay rise suspended after union backlash
Temporary salary increases of as much as £20,000 annually were previously given to executives at NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Pay increases of 10% for top executives at two Scottish health boards, NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, have been put on hold due to controversy surrounding the raises.
The executives in question were granted temporary pay rises of up to £20,000 per year to oversee a major restructuring of Scotland's healthcare system, a move that sparked criticism from unions.
Unions argued that frontline staff, who often take on additional responsibilities without extra compensation, were being unfairly treated compared to the executives receiving the pay hikes.
In response to the backlash, Health Secretary Neil Gray has suspended the pay increases and ordered a comprehensive review of the executives' temporary roles.
The Scottish government aims to improve the country's healthcare system by fostering greater collaboration among its 14 health boards, with a focus on addressing long-standing issues such as waiting times and treatment delays.
As part of this initiative, the health boards will be divided into west and east subnational planning and delivery committees (SPDC), while maintaining their existing geographical boundaries and accountabilities.
The chief executives and chairpersons of NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are responsible for establishing the SPDC, but their 10% temporary pay increases have been suspended pending further evaluation.
According to Health Secretary Neil Gray, ensuring equitable pay across the NHS is a priority, which is why he has requested that health boards suspend the additional pay supplements until a thorough evaluation of these roles is completed.
Gray emphasized the importance of independently assessing these additional responsibilities, with full input from unions, to ensure a fair and transparent process.
The Health Secretary's decision underscores the need for a comprehensive review of the executives' roles and responsibilities, with a focus on ensuring fairness and equity in the pay structure.
The latest available financial records for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde show that its chief executive, Prof Jann Gardner, has an annual salary ranging from £195,000 to £200,000.
The board's chairwoman, Dr Lesley Thomson KC, earns an annual salary between £55,000 and £60,000, according to the same records.
Similarly, the latest financial records for NHS Lothian indicate that its chief executive, Prof Caroline Hiscox, has an annual salary ranging from £195,000 to £200,000.
The board's chairman, Prof John Connaghan, earns an annual salary between £50,000 and £55,000, as per the available records.
Despite the suspension of their pay increases, Prof Hiscox and Prof Gardner will continue to lead the SPDC projects while their additional responsibilities are being evaluated.
Further appointments to the SPDC, including medical and finance directors, are expected to be made from the existing health boards, as part of the ongoing restructuring efforts.
Matt McLaughlin, head of health at Unison, welcomed the decision to suspend the pay increases, but expressed concerns about the handling of the situation, citing a lack of transparency and accountability.
McLaughlin criticized the health department's management of the subnational planning process, describing it as a "disaster" that has damaged trust and confidence in the initiative.
He suggested that Health Secretary Neil Gray should either relaunch the project with new leadership or postpone it until after the May election, allowing a new government to reassess the approach.
Colin Poolman, executive director at RCN Scotland, applauded the decision to suspend the pay increases, describing it as the "right thing to do".
Poolman emphasized the need for a fair and evidence-based process, including a review of the leadership structure and clarity on the implications of the subnational planning approach for staff, and expressed his organization's willingness to work with the Scottish government and health boards to achieve this goal.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
-
News7 hours agoAustralian Politics Faces Questions Over Gender Equality Amid Sussan Ley’s Appointment
-
News4 hours agoFarage Says Reform to Replace Traditional Tory Party
-
News4 hours agoWrexham Pair Seek Win Against Former Team Ipswich
-
News9 hours agoLiberal Party Removes Australia’s First Female Leader
-
News7 hours agoUK Braces for Cold Snap with Snow and Ice Alerts Expected
-
News4 hours agoHusband’s alleged £600k theft for sex and antiques blamed on drug side effects
-
News2 days agoSunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people
-
Business10 hours agoBBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool