Outrage as NHS boss jokes: Nagging makes husbands die younger
A HEALTH service boss sparked fury yesterday by claiming that men die younger than women because they are “nagged to death” by their wives.
Regional NHS chief executive Sir Andrew Morris was branded a “dinosaur” after making the quip in front of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Sir Andrew, the £215,000-a-year head of Frimley health trust in Surrey, stunned more than 150 staff attending a London conference.
The 61-year-old then exacerbated the problem by apologising to the “ladies in the room” at the King’s Fund health charity headquarters.
Other delegates at the event were said to be fuming and incredulous at Sir Andrew’s “sexist” remark.
Jon Rouse, of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, tweeted: “Extraordinary sexist comment. Dinosaurs still roam.”
Valerie Bartlett, of Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Good to see enlightened leadership and great values from one of our highest profile public sector leaders.”
Lizzy Dobres, of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, said: “Shocked to hear Andrew Morris say men die younger because ‘women nag them’. Still such a long way to go.”
Andrew McCracken, from National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities, said: “Even the apology was rubbish.” Sir Andrew, who is married with two grown-up children, said: “I made a comment that I realised right away was completely inappropriate.
“I would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence that it caused.”
The Frimley boss has worked in the NHS for more than 40 years and is one of its longest-standing chief executives. He was knighted two years ago.
He came under fire last year when it was revealed that his £35,000 annual pay rise was more than a nurse earns in a year.
The 19 per cent rise coincided with a pay cap on public sector workers.