NHS trust paid interim finance manager £2,400 a day

AN NHS trust paid a “financial improvement manager” £2,400 a day despite government advice to cut costs, it has emerged.

Ian Miller, a freelance manager, was paid £311,077 for six months’ work by East Sussex Healthcare Trust, which was in more debt by the time he left.

His pay was equivalent to almost £2,400 a day for 130 working days, less bank holidays, in the six months he was at the trust, which has been in financial special measures since October 2016.

NHS Improvement announced it was introducing an approval process for highly paid “interims” seven months before Mr Miller took up the post. It denied supporting the pay deal but admitted it offered advice on rates.

Mr Miller’s pay for April to September last year was revealed in the trust’s annual report. NHS Improvement had recommended the appointment of a financial improvement director.

In a statement, the trust said: “NHS Improvement actively supported the trust in this recruitment … alongside agreement on the terms and conditions of the appointment. At that time, the trust needed proven specialist skills and Ian Miller has significant experience of transforming NHS trusts in similar financial situations.”

An NHS Improvement spokesman said: “At the time the trust appointed Ian Miller, NHS Improvement did not approve the salary of these appointments. We did, however, provide advice to the trust on what was considered an acceptable day rate for someone of a similar position. The figure quoted appears to be higher than expected on the basis of this advice.”