Northampton MP Michael Ellis today told the Commons it was “ludicrous” that around 400 NHS managers were paid more than the Prime Minister.
Michael Ellis, the Conservative MP for Northampton North, said the figure, revealed to him in a written parliamentary answer, justified the Government’s decision to cut the number of managers in the health service.
He said that while he did not doubt the managers who earn more than David Cameron’s annual salary of £142,500 had significant responsibilities, they were no greater than the Prime Minister faced in running the country.
In a written parliamentary question to Health Minister Daniel Poulter, the Tory MP asked how many NHS managers were paid more than Mr Cameron.
Mr Poulter replied that between October 2011 and September 2012 statistics showed that “approximately 400 managers received payments in excess of £142,500”.
Meanwhile, the headcount of senior managers in the NHS in September 2012 stood at 11,500.
Mr Ellis said: “In my view this justifies the Government reducing the number of managers in the NHS by 5,000 and employing 5,000 more doctors.
“But how many more doctors and nurses could have been employed if these managers had been paid less than the Prime Minister?
“I accept that a person in a position of responsibility will need to be properly remunerated. But for 400 managers to be paid more than the Prime Minister who has responsibility for running the country is ludicrous.”
The latest figures are down on previous years. In 2009/10, at least 650 NHS managers received more than Mr Cameron’s salary.
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