Pendle Liberal Democrats rap NHS bosses over pay

11.50.34pm GMT Sun 21st Dec 2008

NHS bosses have been accused of "double standards" for getting huge pay hikes while frontline staff took an effective cut.

Afzal Anwar Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate said, "It was hypocritical of chief executive David Nicholson to accept a rise of between 26% and 32% last year when nurses got only 1.9%".

Mr Nicholson - who previously called for the NHS wage bill to be "squeezed" - raked in a maximum of £258,000 including perks in 2007-8, according to an analysis of health service accounts.

Meanwhile, the director-general of the NHS Workforce, Clare Chapman, took home between 14% and 20% extra - up to £245,000. The increases are recorded as ranges rather than specific figures.

Afzal Anwar added, "Thousands of NHS staff have voted to strike in protest at a "derisory" three-year deal worth about 8%, they have balloted 77,000 staff, with three quarters voting in favour of industrial action, and just over half backing walkouts".

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded tight limits on public sector pay rises last year amid fears over rocketing inflation and pressure on Government finances.

He added, "As a result of tight fiscal control, nurses were given just 1.9% - below inflation - even though the NHS Pay Review Body had recommended they receive 2.5%".

"New Labour have presided over a culture of soaring salaries for top civil servants, while frontline staff have been squeezed.

"There seems to be one rule for hard-working nurses, and another for top bureaucrats at the Department of Health.

"Is it not hypocritical of civil servants to award themselves pay rises like this while telling the nurses who serve our NHS so diligently that they must accept an effective pay cut?"