NHS chief execs paid seven times more than nurses reveals report

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDApr 12 2010

According to newly revealed figures the managers of NHS trusts have received a pay rise of 6.9% in 2008-09 compared to less than 3% among the nurses. This data came forth in an ‘Incomes Data Services’ report that was based on data from more than 380 NHS trusts in England, including primary care, mental health and ambulance trusts. The report showed that the NHS Chief Executives earn seven times more than nurses. The top managers now make £147,500 according to the report which is £10,000 more than average workers. The NHS Confederation in reply said that these top managers were needed to bail them out from financial setbacks.

The Union understandably has raised queries on the above-inflation rises for the bosses and much lower wages for ordinary workers. A union official with Unison, Mike Jackson, opined "it is not right for senior staff to get above inflation pay hikes, while the rest of the workforce get a below inflation pay deal." Senior managers have retaliated that the NHS trusts are a complicated organization in themselves and budgets managed run into many million pounds.

The report revealed on Monday that nurses got a raise of 2.75% in 2008/09 and 2.5% in April this year. Whereas chief executives had a 6.9% pay rise in 2008-09 that came on top of the 6.4% pay hike in 2007-08. According to the report author Steve Tatton, "Our annual survey of NHS boardroom remuneration will not make comfortable reading for those wishing to see those at the top of the service leading from the front on wage restraint…These are undoubtedly testing times for those making decisions about how much to pay NHS chiefs - balancing recruitment and motivation against the need to keep tight control of the public purse - but it seems that the equation has fallen on the side of high salary awards with pay continuing to run ahead of the rest of the workforce."

Chief executives at Guy's and St Thomas' in London are the highest paid with £270,000, the report said. A spokesman for Guy's and St Thomas' in reply said, "The pay of our chief executive, Ron Kerr, reflects the experience, expertise and responsibility that the role demands, and we are delighted to have a chief executive of his caliber to lead the organization….Guy's and St Thomas' is one of the largest, most complex and successful NHS Foundation Trusts in the country."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said in a statement, "NHS and foundation trusts are independent organizations and set their senior pay in the light of the recommendations of their independent remuneration committees - there are no central targets. All pay arrangements over £150,000 a year must now be publicly justified."