NHS chiefs say executives need to be paid more

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 10:18

HEALTH chiefs in the Capital want to pay their top executives more – despite an outcry over their so-called "fat cat" salaries.

Four NHS Lothian bosses were among ten health service executives across Scotland who were paid a total of almost 2 million last year. But the Capital's health board is worried that, despite paying wages of up to 230,000 a year, it cannot compete with its English counterparts.

The issue was aired at a recent health board meeting where chairman Dr Charles Winstanley warned of a growing pay gap between north and south of the Border.

Scotland's highest-paid NHS executive is Lothian's medical director Dr Charles Swainson – who earns 230,000 a year – while Lothian's chief executive James Barbour earns 195,000 a year.

But many English NHS chief executives are paid considerably more than Mr Barbour, including Sir Neil McKay, chief executive of East of England Strategic Health Authority, who receives nearly 240,000 a year.

Dr Winstanley told the meeting: "I, like other chairs, am putting increasing pressure on the Scottish Government to realise that the pay for executive directors is out of kilter with those in England who do the same job.

"When replacing directors it could well be difficult to maintain the same level of quality."

His views were echoed by fellow board members – many of whom earn more than 100,000 – but critics have said the money should be put into patient care.

The salary grades of senior executives are set by the UK and Scottish Governments, with Trusts south of the Border regularly paying tens of thousands of pounds more.

One source at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary said there was some resentment at the huge wages paid to the top earners. "It is hard to accept. There are a lot of people who work damn hard and are lucky to get a fraction of those wages," the source said.

In contrast to NHS Lothian, none of the ten best-paid Scottish executives worked at NHS Greater Glasgow. That anomaly is understood to be largely down to the longer service and greater experience of those in the Capital.

Dr Swainson also receives extra pay as he, unlike many medical directors, maintains clinical responsibilities alongside his managerial ones.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "It is obscene to suggest these people should be getting even more money – are their heads in the clouds?"

Alan Boyter, director of human resources and organisational development for NHS Lothian, said: "Salaries and pay grades of senior managers across NHS Scotland are determined by a national evaluation panel."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We do not believe NHS Scotland is failing to attract the highest calibre candidates to senior posts because salaries are set too low – NHS executives and managers are highly paid. We aim to strike a balance between rewarding them adequately for the challenging jobs they do and ensuring best value for the public purse."