DUP Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has hit out at the Northern Trust for bringing in a Buddhist monk to hold happiness classes for NHS staff.
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Ryushin Paul Haller, originally from Belfast, will teach Northern Trust employees how "to be happy, calm and content" later this month.
According to an NHS brochure, the monk has taught at San Francisco Zen Centre for over 20 years and has led programmes on how to use "skills of mindfulness" to overcome depression throughout the USA and Europe.
The workshops are being provided free of charge, the Trust has confirmed.
But Mr Wilson has hit out at what he calls an "appalling waste of resources".
"If further proof is needed that there are too many managers in the health service, this is it," Mr Wilson said.
"They clearly have too much time on their hands and have got their priorities wrong if they think that what is needed are sessions such as these.
"Speaking to doctors and nurses in the health service, they do not want more monks, but they want more doctors and nurses to help relieve the pressure that they are under."
The DUP MP said the Co Antrim NHS staff should have to take such classes "in their own time and out of their own pocket".
"Trust staff will have to use their time to organise it, and Trust property is being used to facilitate what is essentially a religious event," Mr Wilson said.
"This is taking people away from their jobs," he added.
"With all the pressures that the health service is facing at this time, I am disappointed that there are those who think that it is acceptable to provide such a service to staff."
In a statement, the Northern Trust said it had "a duty to care for staff".
"Staff in Health and Social Care Services often work under considerable pressure and we encourage and promote a number of activities that can help with stress management", the Trust explained.
"We believe that by giving staff these skills and techniques we create a more effective and efficient workforce."
The Trust said the happiness workshop has received "significant interest" from a wide range of staff.
Earlier this week, Sammy Wilson announced the health budget will be protected from £128m cuts imposed by the UK government to Northern Ireland.
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