Research has revealed that at least 350 NHS bosses were paid more than £150,000 last year, with nearly 60 NHS chiefs earning more than the Prime Minister.
The “Rich List” of more than 350 public bodies, including government departments, quangos and state-owned corporations, showed substantial rises for some NHS personnel as trusts compete with each other to attract and retain the best managers, research for campaign group Taxpayer’s Alliance found.
Figures were bolstered by the inclusion of state-owned banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), who were bailed out by the taxpayer during the height of the credit crunch.
Former RBS executive Mark Fisher topped the list with earnings of £1,388,000, while top earners in the NHS included Professor Salman Rawaf, the recently retired director of public health at Wandsworth PCT in West London, who earned £370,000 last year, comprising a salary of £150,000 and £175,000 of other remuneration.
The research also found that eight state employees were enjoying packages worth more than £1m, with 323 being paid more than the prime minister.
A Treasury spokesman said: “The chief secretary to the Treasury has said that we have to make tough but realistic decisions on pay and that it’s right that this starts with leadership from the top earners in the public sector. That’s why in October we proposed a freeze for senior groups next year.
“We also announced in this year’s Budget that when vacancies for chief executive positions arise at non-departmental public bodies, departments will review remuneration packages to ensure that these reflect the current labour market conditions.”
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