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Nearly 50 NHS England executives earn more than PM, figures show Nearly 50 NHS England executives earn more than PM, figures show
(about 14 hours later)
Nearly 50 executives at the bureaucracy which runs the NHS earn more than the prime minister, the Guardian can disclose, in revelations that have sparked a row over pay in the health service.Nearly 50 executives at the bureaucracy which runs the NHS earn more than the prime minister, the Guardian can disclose, in revelations that have sparked a row over pay in the health service.
A total of 48 senior personnel at NHS England earn in excess of David Cameron's £142,500 a year salary.A total of 48 senior personnel at NHS England earn in excess of David Cameron's £142,500 a year salary.
Sir David Nicholson, the NHS's embattled chief executive who is due to retire next March, earns the most – £211,249. Five executives earn over £180,000, including Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, the high-profile national medical director, who takes home £190,000-£195,000. Sir David Nicholson, the NHS's embattled chief executive who is due to retire next March, earns the most – £211,249. Five executives earn more than £180,000, including Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, the high-profile national medical director, whose salary is £190,000-£195,000.
A total of 291 earn over £100,000 a year, meaning that almost one in 20 of the organisation's 6,115 staff earns at least a six-figure sum. The 291 "very senior managers", who are a combination of managers (62%) and doctors (38%), represent 4.7% of its overall workforce. A total of 291 earn more than £100,000 a year, meaning that almost one in 20 of the organisation's 6,115 staff earns at least a six-figure sum. The 291 "very senior managers", who are a combination of managers (62%) and doctors (38%), represent 4.7% of its overall workforce.
NHS England has responded to Guardian requests for details of how many of its staff are high earners days before it reveals for the first time, through the Cabinet Office website, exactly what each of its 298 very senior managers earns, and names them all, in an unprecedented act of transparency by the NHS.NHS England has responded to Guardian requests for details of how many of its staff are high earners days before it reveals for the first time, through the Cabinet Office website, exactly what each of its 298 very senior managers earns, and names them all, in an unprecedented act of transparency by the NHS.
The organisation, created by the coalition's controversial NHS shake-up in England in April, has a budget of £96bn. It, rather than the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is now responsible day-to-day for running hospital trusts and GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), delivering key NHS targets and improving quality of care.The organisation, created by the coalition's controversial NHS shake-up in England in April, has a budget of £96bn. It, rather than the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is now responsible day-to-day for running hospital trusts and GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), delivering key NHS targets and improving quality of care.
Critics questioned why NHS England had so many senior personnel on high salaries, especially when the service is seeking £20bn of efficiency savings and many hospitals are reducing their workforce.Critics questioned why NHS England had so many senior personnel on high salaries, especially when the service is seeking £20bn of efficiency savings and many hospitals are reducing their workforce.
Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is astonishing how many NHS England staff are earning more than the prime minister and that nearly 300 are on six-figure salaries. At a time when budgets are so tight, people expect the NHS to be concentrating its scarce resources on delivering frontline medical care, not lining the pockets of managers."Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is astonishing how many NHS England staff are earning more than the prime minister and that nearly 300 are on six-figure salaries. At a time when budgets are so tight, people expect the NHS to be concentrating its scarce resources on delivering frontline medical care, not lining the pockets of managers."
Labour said the public would struggle to comprehend the large number of highly paid NHS bosses. "David Cameron wasted £3bn on a reorganisation to create this quango and these figures reveal only a fraction of its running costs. Patients will find it hard to understand when nurses on the frontline face pay freezes and P45s," said Jamie Reed, a shadow health minister.Labour said the public would struggle to comprehend the large number of highly paid NHS bosses. "David Cameron wasted £3bn on a reorganisation to create this quango and these figures reveal only a fraction of its running costs. Patients will find it hard to understand when nurses on the frontline face pay freezes and P45s," said Jamie Reed, a shadow health minister.
Stephen Moir, NHS England's director of people, said the salaries were justified. "We are confident the salaries offered are value for money for the taxpayer and enable us to attract and retain the right quality of staff to these critical jobs. Patients would expect and deserve the best people we can employ to lead NHS England, both clinically and in managerial roles," he said.Stephen Moir, NHS England's director of people, said the salaries were justified. "We are confident the salaries offered are value for money for the taxpayer and enable us to attract and retain the right quality of staff to these critical jobs. Patients would expect and deserve the best people we can employ to lead NHS England, both clinically and in managerial roles," he said.
"Importantly, many of these senior staff choose to work for us on lower salaries than they might have attracted elsewhere, because of their passion for the NHS and for improving health outcomes for patients," added Moir."Importantly, many of these senior staff choose to work for us on lower salaries than they might have attracted elsewhere, because of their passion for the NHS and for improving health outcomes for patients," added Moir.
NHS England claims to have only half the number of managers in senior roles that there were in predecessor organisations before the April reorganisation, which saw many top bosses paid off.NHS England claims to have only half the number of managers in senior roles that there were in predecessor organisations before the April reorganisation, which saw many top bosses paid off.
Pay levels at NHS England have been "thoroughly assessed and scrutinised, by the Department of Health and the Treasury, where appropriate" to help reassure the public, an organisation insider added.Pay levels at NHS England have been "thoroughly assessed and scrutinised, by the Department of Health and the Treasury, where appropriate" to help reassure the public, an organisation insider added.
New official figures covering the NHS's 1.18-million-strong workforce in England show that senior managers in the wider NHS – those helping to run hospitals, CCGs and mental health trusts – saw their pay rise by 1.9% between 2012 and 2013, more than any other group of staff, to an average of £75,759.New official figures covering the NHS's 1.18-million-strong workforce in England show that senior managers in the wider NHS – those helping to run hospitals, CCGs and mental health trusts – saw their pay rise by 1.9% between 2012 and 2013, more than any other group of staff, to an average of £75,759.
The nine highest-paid people at NHS EnglandThe nine highest-paid people at NHS England
1. Sir David Nicholson, chief executive – £211,249.1. Sir David Nicholson, chief executive – £211,249.
2. Paul Baumann, chief financial officer – £200k-£205k2. Paul Baumann, chief financial officer – £200k-£205k
3. Dame Barbara Hakin, acting chief operating officer/deputy chief executive – £195k-£200k.3. Dame Barbara Hakin, acting chief operating officer/deputy chief executive – £195k-£200k.
4. Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, national medical director – £190k-£195k.4. Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, national medical director – £190k-£195k.
5. Tim Kelsey, national director for patients and information – £180k-£185k.5. Tim Kelsey, national director for patients and information – £180k-£185k.
6. Bill McCarthy, national director of policy – £175k-£180k.6. Bill McCarthy, national director of policy – £175k-£180k.
Joint 7. Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer – £165k-£170k.Joint 7. Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer – £165k-£170k.
Joint 7. Rosamond Roughton, acting national director of clinical commissioning – £165k-£170k.Joint 7. Rosamond Roughton, acting national director of clinical commissioning – £165k-£170k.
9. Jo-Anne Wass, national director of HR and organisational development – £155k-£160k.9. Jo-Anne Wass, national director of HR and organisational development – £155k-£160k.
(Source: Hansard, 12 September 2013)(Source: Hansard, 12 September 2013)
• This article was amended on 20 September 2013. It originally referred to salaries as take-home pay. The former is gross pay, the latter is after tax. This has been corrected.
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