Pay rise for NHS chair criticised

Union officials have criticised South Tees NHS Trust after it voted to more than double its chairman's salary.

Deborah Jenkins' pay is to increase from £23,000 to £50,000 after the move by the trust's council of governors.

Unison said it was wrong step at a time when costs were being cut within the organisation, which covers hospitals in Teesside and North Yorkshire.

But trust chief executive Simon Pleydell said the rise was needed to secure "top class leadership".

He said: "Given the current economic climate I know this is a sensitive issue but it is vital for the success of our NHS foundation trust.

This is a tremendous amount of money and morale is going to be absolutely appalling after this Margaret Toase, of Unison

"If we are paying significantly less than all our neighbouring trusts we won't be able to recruit or retain people of a sufficient calibre."

The council of governors has also voted to increase the annual pay of non-executive directors from £6,096 to £13,750.

South Tees was the last trust in the North East of England to achieve Foundation Trust status when it was authorised in May.

Unison representative Margaret Toase said: "We are having cuts and I just feel the timing is really wrong.

"This is a tremendous amount of money and staff morale is going to be absolutely appalling after this.

"The staff will think that the chairman and directors knew what the salary was when they took the job.

"They are going to want to know what has changed within the one month since trust status was granted."

The South Tees NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough and Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.