NHS Trust pay storm

The chairman of a new foundation trust covering Stafford and Cannock’s main hospitals could have her pay more than doubled.

If new governors give their backing to a review, the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust chairman Toni Brisby would see her pay for a minimum three-and-a-half days a week rise by 122 per cent from £18,000 to £40,000.

It would also go up by another £5,000 in 12 months’ time.

Vice-chairman Gerald Hindley’s pay would rise by 154 per cent from £5,900 to £15,000 as would the trust’s audit chairman.

At the same time the trust’s other three non-executive directors would get a rise from £5,900 to £12,000 –  103 per cent. They put in a minimum two-and-a-half days a month.

If all the rises are approved by the council of governors it would add £58,500 a year to the trust’s wage bill.

Council members yesterday voted 14-5 for the debate on the chairman and non-executive remuneration to be held in public.

Vice-chairman Rod Hammerton said the remuneration review committee had looked at pay of foundation trusts of equivalent size before coming up with the recommendations which were in line with trust regulator Monitor’s guidelines.

Governor Chris Woodward said the responsibilities had risen with the granting of foundation trust status and should be reflected in the salaries.

Council member Councillor Phillip Jones said such “substantial” increases had to be justified and said he was concerned that recommendations had not been drawn up in strict accordance with Monitor’s code of governance.

He said that if there were to be substantial increases Monitor’s code called for outside consultants to be used which had not been done.

“The pay of a public official should not be set by a nod and a wink behind closed doors. It should be open and transparent and all the evidence should be laid before us,” he added.

The council voted for the increases to be deferred until the next meeting on March 20 for a full report to be presented. Council member Ken Sproston said the governors should have been presented with a written detailed report before taking a decision.

l The former Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust was only given foundation trust status on Friday. It plans a range of improvements over the next five years.