Critics sickened as just nine NHS bosses go in shake-up

Critics have reacted angrily to the fact only a handful of the health board's best-paid executives – on more than 60,000 a year – are being targeted in the drive to save 31 million.

In contrast, more than 330 nursing and midwifery posts and nearly 60 doctors jobs are to be cut.

The Scottish Government and health board today pointed out the proportion of executive jobs going was greater than in other areas.

But Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, criticised NHS Lothian for not aiming to get rid of more of the 174 senior managers earning salaries above 60,000.

"This is a crazy sense of priorities," she said.

The 700 posts are just the first round of cuts, with the health board planning to lose 1,300 more jobs next year.

The health board is fighting a funding battle on two fronts, with the tightening of budgets plus a funding formula which sees an "unfair" share of funds coming to Edinburgh compared with Glasgow.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "People go into hospital and need the best care which is provided by frontline health workers.

"It's time the ones at the top took the hit. They are employed by us, no-one else."

Department heads across NHS Lothian have all been asked to shave at least five per cent off their budget, but some senior NHS sources believe job cuts aren't the best answer.

One told the Evening News: "What we have to ask is are we looking carefully enough at whether some tasks performed by one group could be done more sensibly by another?"

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon added: "These figures are not set in stone. I expect boards to continue to try to minimise the reductions by working hard to maximise non-workforce- related efficiencies."

Alan Boyter, NHS Lothian's director of human resources, said: "The figures are initial projections which are in no way indicative of any planned staffing reductions."