NHS "Fat Cats" in Scotland Earn More Than the Prime Minister: Shocking Payouts Revealed

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Hundreds of NHS A report unveiled today shows that bosses are retaining over £100,000 annually even though they have not succeeded in reducing wait times.

Despite taxpayer contributions reaching unprecedented levels, almost 1,700 high-ranking NHS officials received substantial amounts in compensation through salaries, pensions, bonuses, expense allowances, and severance packages.

Meanwhile, 512 senior managers banked salaries greater than the Prime Minister’s (£172,153) - with nearly 300 on £200,000 or more.

The first of its kind UK-wide ‘NHS Rich List’ also found several were handed bonuses and ‘golden goodbyes’ of up to £150,000, while others left the health service with pension pots worth over £1million.

Last night Scottish Tory Chief Whip Alexander Burnett stated: "Health boards throughout Scotland require additional junior doctors, nurses, and paramedics—not more administrators."

'Scotland is experiencing ambulance response times of up to 18 hours, along with substantial salaries at higher levels.'

'The SNP allowed this issue to arise during their tenure. They must now resolve the predicament created by their neglect.'

The TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA), the organization that conducted the research, reported that the highest-paid manager in Scotland for the period from 2023 to 2024 was Paul Bachoo. He serves as the acute medical director and portfolio lead (surgery and clinical support) at NHS Grampian, receiving a total compensation of £242,500.

This was despite the TPA finding that the board was ranked 12th worst out of 14 on waiting times between referral and treatment in Scotland, and 10th out of 14 for A&E waiting times.

Catherine Cowan, who has stepped down from her role at NHS Forth Valley, topped the list as the highest-paid NHS chief executive in Scotland for the year 2023-24, earning a total compensation of £217,500. This amount includes an exit package valued at £70,347.

The board came third out of 14 for referral to treatment waiting times and 13th out of 14 for A&E waiting times.

The former NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Professor Jann Gardner received £157,500 in total remuneration in 2023-24.

The TPA positioned the board at number 13 out of 14 for referral to treatment wait times and last, which is 14th out of 14, for accident and emergency department wait times.

On February 1, Professor Gardner took over as the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: ‘Salaries are set nationally and conform to Scotland’s national public sector pay policy.

'These numbers are revised and confirmed via the National Performance Management Committee procedure.'

'Generally speaking, numerous employees holding high-ranking positions such as medical executives or directors often continue to juggle their strategic responsibilities alongside hands-on patient care.'

'That might encompass anything from medical centers to operations.'

NHS Forth Valley stated that it ranks among the top-performing NHS boards in Scotland concerning wait times for outpatient visits, day treatments, and scheduled surgeries.

A spokesperson stated: "The terms for every employee upon leaving or retiring align with the NHS contract conditions and pertinent guidelines from the Scottish Government."

'This would also factor in any remaining vacation time, the notice period, and transitional arrangements.'

NHS Lanarkshire directed inquiries to the Scottish Government.

The statistics, which encompass over 200 trusts and boards—known in Scotland as such—for the 2023-24 fiscal year, are likely to upset the millions of patients throughout the UK who remain on waiting lists.

In March, it was revealed that over 10,000 patients in Scotland passed away while awaiting treatment on an NHS waitlist for the consecutive second year.

Official statistics similarly reveal a tripling of deaths among patients requiring specialized treatment.

The First Minister, John Swinney, stated that his aim for this year was to decrease the overall number of people on waiting lists, which have exceeded 800,000—a figure representing one out of every six Scots.

The most recent data also showed nearly one in three patients in Scotland had to wait more than four hours to be seen at A&E, with 10.5 per cent waiting more than eight hours and 4.3 per cent for longer than 12 hours.

The TPA study will further intensify concerns that a significant portion of funds allocated to the healthcare sector is failing to reach the frontlines and is instead being used to support positions like 'diversity roles' which some may consider non-essential.

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Shimeon Lee, the TPA analyst responsible for preparing the report, stated: "It will shock taxpayers to learn that while NHS patients endure long wait times and poor emergency care, numerous high-ranking officials are receiving salaries exceeding six figures."

'Nobody argues against fair compensation for those at the frontlines, yet this wealthy roster reveals exorbitant wages for high-ranking officials, particularly within struggling organizations, which are hard to defend.'

‘If ministers are serious about getting the NHS back on track, they need to ensure that managers of poor performing trusts and boards aren’t being rewarded for failure, put patients first, and ensure best practice is spread throughout the health service.’

In total, the study found 1,694 senior managers got £100,000 or more in total remuneration across 224 trusts and boards.

Of these, 1,557 included a salary over £100,000. A further 296 got £200,000 or more while 17 received over £300,000.

The highest went to Ann James, the former CEO of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, who got a £397,500 total pay package, including £382,500 salary.

The trust was ranked 95 out of 136 in England for A&E waiting times.

The individual with one of the most substantial overall compensation packages (£427,500), which included a salary of £262,500 along with £166,250 attributed to pension benefits, was Jonathan Brotherton, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust was placed at number 128 out of 149 for referral-to-treatment wait times and at position 119 out of 136 for A&E wait times in England.

George Findlay, who serves as the CEO of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, received a bonus of £32,500, in addition to his annual salary of £222,500. This occurred even though the trust ranked at number 143 out of 149 and 105 out of 136 for the respective targets set.

In comparison, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust excelled in terms of referral-to-treatment waiting times. The trust’s CEO, Joe Rafferty, received a comprehensive compensation package totaling £257,500.

Other eyebrow-raising salaries included North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust paying its 'chief people officer,' Louise Tibbert, £257,500.

The TPA study pertains to managerial positions within NHS trusts rather than NHS England, the organization overseeing the healthcare system that is set to be abolished by the UK government.

Earlier this month, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting unveiled proposals for annual salary increases to be reduced as part of stringent new initiatives designed to enhance NHS efficiency and accelerate reductions in patient wait times.

Up to 10 percent bonuses will be available for high-performing trusts as part of this new 'incentive and accountability' strategy.

The UK government's health department was reached out to for comments.

A representative from the Scottish Government stated: "The compensation for NHS Scotland chiefs and high-ranking personnel is determined externally and corresponds to their positions as directors of major and intricate public entities delivering essential services."

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