Salary cap ‘broken’ to woo new NHS bosses

THE Welsh Government has “broken” the salary cap for senior NHS managers around Wales 12 times in three years, it has been revealed.

Pay bands for the NHS Wales’ most senior staff range from £85,850 to £202,000 per year but if a health board wants to advertise a role above the maximum end of a pay band then permission must first be sought from the Welsh Government.

In a letter to Welsh Conservatives’ leader Andrew RT Davies, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething confirmed that, on 13 separate occasions, health boards had asked the Welsh Government to raise advertised NHS manager salaries above the maximum end of the pay band.

But the Welsh Government claims it is sometimes necessary to offer higher levels of pay to ensure high-quality, safe and effective healthcare is maintained.

The Welsh Conservatives are now calling for an independent review into how NHS Wales pays its senior staff.

Cwm Taf University Health Board requested the salary cap to be broken on an advertised role on three separate occasions – one of which was turned down by the Welsh Government.

These included appointments for a director of public health, finance director (refused) and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) managing director.

In June the Wales Audit Office described Cardiff and Vale University Health board’s awarding of a £150,000 contract – above the approved salary range of £125,000 to £134,000 for NHS executive directors – to Raj Chana, owner of RKC Associates, as “fundamentally compromised” and lacking in transparency.

Commenting on the data, Mr Davies said: “Four of Wales’ seven health boards have operated on a budget loss for the past three years and it’s unsurprising given the eye-watering sums they are willing to throw at new appointments.

“While I accept that health boards have to remain competitive to attract the best talent, many working on the cash-starved frontline will see this as an affront given the millions Welsh Labour have cut from their budgets.”

In response a Welsh Government spokesman said: “This is nonsense. Despite significant cuts to our budget by the UK Government, spending on health and social care services in Wales is the highest it has ever been.”

Allison Williams, chief executive of Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “Both posts approved within Cwm Taf UHB are very senior posts which are filled by medical doctors.

“The pay structure for doctors differs and these requests were made to reflect this.

“We recognise the importance of transparency when it comes to finances and details of our spending are published every year on our website.”

A Cardiff and Vale University Health Board spokeswoman said: “All executive director salaries and above are formally documented in the board papers and annual accounts openly available on our website and via the annual report.

“We follow the correct process with Welsh Government for seeking approval of those outside of the cap and each is decided upon its merits.”