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Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
They're earning more than the PM! Bumper sums awarded to Scots NHS fat cats revealed
Hundreds of NHS bosses are pocketing more than £100,000 a year despite failing to bring down waiting lists, a report reveals today. Amid record sums being poured in by taxpayers, nearly 1,700 fat cat NHS bureaucrats were handed the bumper sum in pay, pensions, bonuses, expenses and payoffs. Meanwhile, 512 senior managers banked salaries greater than the Prime Minister's (£172,153) - with nearly 300 on £200,000 or more. The first of its kind UK-wide 'NHS Rich List' also found several were handed bonuses and 'golden goodbyes' of up to £150,000, while others left the health service with pension pots worth over £1million. Last night Scottish Tory chief whip Alexander Burnett said: 'Health boards across Scotland need more junior doctors, more nurses and more paramedics — not more chiefs. 'Scots are seeing ambulance turnaround times of up to 18 hours but also big wage bills at the top. 'The SNP have let this situation happen on their watch. They must fix the problem their lack of attention has caused.' According to the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaign group, which carried out the study, the manager earning the most in Scotland in 2023-24 was Paul Bachoo, acute medical director and portfolio lead (surgery and clinical support) at NHS Grampian, with a total remuneration of £242,500. This was despite the TPA finding that the board was ranked 12th worst out of 14 on waiting times between referral and treatment in Scotland, and 10th out of 14 for A&E waiting times. Catherine Cowan, who has now left her post at NHS Forth Valley, was the highest-earning NHS chief executive in Scotland in 2023-24, with total remuneration of £217,500, including an exit package of £70,347. The board came third out of 14 for referral to treatment waiting times and 13th out of 14 for A&E waiting times. The former NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Professor Jann Gardner received £157,500 in total remuneration in 2023-24. The TPA ranked the board 13th out of 14 for referral to treatment waiting times and 14th out of 14 for A&E waiting times. Professor Gardner became chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on February 1. An NHS Grampian spokesman said: 'Salaries are set nationally and conform to Scotland's national public sector pay policy. 'These figures are adjusted and ratified through the National Performance Management Committee process. 'In general terms, many staff in senior medical executive or director roles, will also still be combining that strategic position with active clinical duties with patients. 'That could include everything from clinics to surgery.' NHS Forth Valley said it is one of the best performing NHS boards in Scotland 'in relation to waiting times for outpatient appointments, day treatment and planned surgical operations'. A spokesman said: 'Arrangements for all staff who leave or retire are agreed in line with NHS contractual arrangements and relevant Scottish Government guidance. 'This would also take into account any outstanding annual leave, notice period and transitional arrangements.' NHS Lanarkshire referred enquiries to the Scottish Government. The figures, covering more than 200 trusts and boards, as they are known in Scotland, for the 2023-24 financial year, will anger the millions of patients still stuck on waiting lists across the UK. It emerged in March that more than 10,000 patients in Scotland had died 'in limbo' on an NHS waiting list for the second year in a row. Official figures also show a trebling of fatalities among patients needing specialist care. First Minister John Swinney has said his objective this year was to reduce the total on waiting lists, which have topped more than 800,000 - the equivalent of one in six Scots. The most recent data also showed nearly one in three patients in Scotland had to wait more than four hours to be seen at A&E, with 10.5 per cent waiting more than eight hours and 4.3 per cent for longer than 12 hours. The TPA study will also fuel suspicions that much of the money lavished on the health service is not making it to the frontline and is instead helping to fund 'non-jobs' such as diversity roles. Shimeon Lee, the TPA analyst who compiled the report, said: 'Taxpayers will be appalled that while NHS patients face prolonged waiting lists and dismal A&E performance, hundreds of senior managers are pocketing six-figure pay packets. 'No one disputes that frontline staff deserve decent pay, but this rich list shows that there are sky-high salaries for senior bureaucrats, many in underachieving trusts, that are impossible to justify. 'If ministers are serious about getting the NHS back on track, they need to ensure that managers of poor performing trusts and boards aren't being rewarded for failure, put patients first, and ensure best practice is spread throughout the health service.' In total, the study found 1,694 senior managers got £100,000 or more in total remuneration across 224 trusts and boards. Of these, 1,557 included a salary over £100,000. A further 296 got £200,000 or more while 17 received over £300,000. The highest went to Ann James, the former CEO of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, who got a £397,500 total pay package, including £382,500 salary. The trust was ranked 95 out of 136 in England for A&E waiting times. One of the highest total pay packages (£427,500), including a £262,500 salary and £166,250 in pension-related benefits, went to Jonathan Brotherton, CEO of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The trust was ranked 128 of 149 for referral-to-treatment waiting times and 119 of 136 for A&E waiting times in England. George Findlay, the CEO of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, was handed a £32,500 bonus - on top of his £222,500 salary - despite it ranking 143 of 149 and 105 of 136 for the same targets respectively. By contrast, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust had the best referral-to-treatment waiting times. Its CEO, Joe Rafferty, got a total pay package of £257,500. Other eyebrow-raising salaries included North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust giving its 'chief people officer', Louise Tibbert, a £257,500 salary. The TPA study related to managerial roles at NHS trusts and not NHS England, the quango which runs the health service but which is being scrapped by the UK Government. Earlier this month, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to have annual pay rises docked under tough new measures aimed at improving NHS performance and driving progress on cutting waiting lists. Bonuses of up to 10 per cent will be on offer for top performing trusts under the new 'carrot and stick' approach. The UK Government health department was contacted for comment. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'The salaries of NHS Scotland chief executives and senior staff are independently assessed and reflect their roles as leaders of large and complex public sector organisations providing vital services.'
STV News
16-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
'We tried to save our grandad with CPR because ambulance took so long'
A brother and sister tried to save their grandad's life while waiting 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. When Harry de Vries suffered a heart attack on a family holiday to Aberdeenshire, his grandchildren Sophie, 18, and Timothy, 16, took turns to perform CPR. But Mr de Vries, 78, was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident highlights the pressures facing NHS Grampian as it tries to balance the books and reduce ambulance waiting times. STV News Sophie, 18, and Timothy, 16, tried to save their grandad by performing CPR. The Scottish Ambulance Service said it was experiencing three hours of delays at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary the night Mr de Vries died on January 12. Harry's family has now made an impassioned call for nobody else to 'go through what we did'. 'We took turns doing CPR because after five minutes of CPR you get absolutely exhausted,' said Timothy. Sophie said: 'It was definitely not a situation we had imagined, especially with our parents gone. Everyone who came on scene afterwards was very nice, very helpful.' Supplied Harry de Vries, 78, from the Netherlands, died from a heart attack while on Holiday in Aberdeenshire after an ambulance took nearly 40 minutes to arrive. Although the call was identified as immediately life-threatening, it took nearly 40 minutes for an ambulance to come. 'All the local ambulances close to us were tied up at ARI,' said Nick Ledger, Mr de Vries' son-in-law. 'There was an average turnaround time of one hour and 40 minutes on that early Sunday morning. 'So they couldn't release our local ambulance because it was tied up at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – they had to dispatch ambulances further afield.' Supplied Harry de Vries, 78, from the Netherlands, died from a heart attack while on Holiday in Aberdeenshire after an ambulance took nearly 40 minutes to arrive. Mr de Vries' daughter Jeannette added: 'If the ambulance had, been earlier it might have been that he was taken to hospital and at that time there would have been a doctor pronouncing him dead, which would have helped us get him back to the Netherlands quicker.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service has apologised to the family and said delays at both ARI and Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin are continuing to put significant pressure on the service. The Scottish Government's health secretary Neil Gray said: 'I apologise to anybody who has suffered any unacceptable delay in accessing services in any part of the country. 'That is exactly why we're seeking to intervene here to see us improve the position around the ambulance stacking that has taken place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.'' Supplied Harry de Vries, 78, from the Netherlands, died from a heart attack while on Holiday in Aberdeenshire after an ambulance took nearly 40 minutes to arrive. A critical incident was declared at ARI last year as the hospital experienced problems with long queues for ambulances at its A&E department. The health board's finances have also been under pressure – NHS Grampian has borrowed tens of millions from the Scottish Government and now it faces more scrutiny. However, with a further £23m to save before June 7, concerns have been raised about how that will impact patient care. NHS Grampian says it has protocols to allow the rapid release of ambulances if needed to attend an emergency call. A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said it would continue to work closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service to reduce ambulance turnaround times, to help increase ambulance availability. The health board said that in the event an ambulance needs to be released urgently to attend an emergency call, it has protocols and systems in place to allow the rapid release. Alexander Burnett, the Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, said the stacking up of ambulances outside the ARI needed to stop. 'Not only was the Banchory ambulance there, but six other ambulances that should have been available were also stacked for up to two hours,' he said. 'NHS Grampian needs scrutiny, it is failing on so many different levels and constituents, particularly regarding rural health care, need answers.' Mr de Vries' family wants immediate action from the health service to ensure others don't experience similar pain. Jeannette said: 'It's hurting families and we would like something to be done about it, so that nobody goes through what we had to go through.' A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said: 'We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to Mr de Vries' family. 'We share the concern of patients and staff and will continue to work closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service to reduce ambulance turnaround times, to help increase ambulance availability. 'For instance, our clinical staff are now providing support to assess patients while in ambulances, and our Call Before You Convey service and Flow Navigation Centre have reduced the number of patients being transported to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service when other treatment pathways should be followed. 'The safety of patients, our staff, and those working for SAS has the highest priority. In the event an ambulance needs to be released urgently to attend an emergency call, we have protocols and systems in place to allow the rapid release of SAS vehicles. 'When patients arrive at our hospitals they are seen based on clinical priority. Those in need of emergency care, for instance following a stroke or heart attack, are seen with the utmost urgency. Average ambulance turnaround times are in no way indicative of the time taken for emergency cases to be seen. 'Mr De Vries' tragic case emphasises the importance of 999 calls only being used for genuine emergencies such as his. It is vital patients phone NHS 24 on 111 before attending the Emergency Department or a Minor Injury Unit – unless the situation is life threatening, for instance a suspected stroke of heart attack, in which case you should call 999. Using the 111 service allows us to keep waiting times to a minimum and better manage hospital capacity.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: 'We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Mrs Ledger and her family. We are very sorry for their loss. 'At the time of this call, ambulances arriving to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary were experiencing delays of nearly three hours. It is extremely disappointing that despite extensive engagement with NHS Grampian, hospital delays at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray's Hospital continue to put significant pressure on the ambulance service across Grampian. 'These delays prevent our ambulance crews from getting back out on the road to treat other patients, such as Mr de Vries. When a time is appropriate, we would ask the family to contact our Patient Experience Team so we can discuss the case personally. 'We once again pass on our sincere condolences to the family for their loss.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Press and Journal
14-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
NHS staff in Grampian and Highland lift lid on pressures: From 'unsafe' corridor care to abuse from patients
Scores of under-pressure NHS employees working across the Highlands and Grampian have laid bare the realities of working in today's health service. From 'unsafe' corridor care, to increasing abuse from patients and 'unsustainable' pressures, they detail their experience on the frontline of the health service. We heard from 1,237 about their experiences with NHS Grampian and NHS Highland as part of our wide-ranging survey into the state of local healthcare. A total of 253 NHS employees from both health boards responded to our survey sharing their opinions. Of the total who responded, four out of five said the health service has got worse since they started, particularly for those with more than five years service. Respondents were able to add comments, anonymously if they wanted to, as part of our survey. Several pointed to the impact of ambulances being stuck outside hospitals for hours with patients not seen in a 'timely manner'. A member of staff from NHS Grampian claimed the staff to patient ratio is 'unsafe' as services such as oxygen or the emergency buzzer system cannot be provided. They added: 'The hospital is at breaking point and it's very dangerous.' And in Highland, an NHS worker said corridor care is 'becoming the new accepted norm'. A total of 253 NHS employees responded to our wide-ranging survey into the state of local healthcare. Four out of five NHS employees said their experience working for the health service has become worse in the time they have been there. How long they worked for the NHS influenced their perception. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to have had an impact. NHS Grampian says it resorts to using corridor care at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray's hospitals during periods of 'extreme pressure'. A spokeswoman said: 'The use of these areas has been carefully risk assessed, and processes have been developed to guide ward teams in the use of these areas. 'We accept this is not ideal for either patients or staff and we only use non-standard areas when all other alternatives have been exhausted.' But tensions are spilling over with accounts of frustrated patients taking their anger out on hardworking staff. One Highland nurse said she 'regularly' faces physical and verbal abuse. The employee said when she raises these behaviours with management, they 'turn around and ask what I could have done differently to avoid it'. Another worker from the same health board said patients are 'more abusive and aggressive' and claimed they had been physically assaulted 'several times'. Meanwhile, one NHS Grampian employee, with more than a decade's service, said staff face 'a lot of verbal abuse from frustrated patients and their family members'. 'Although we understand their anger, it's hard for staff to be constantly having to face the music from people based on changes made from management.' Members of staff at NHS Grampian report being under 'unsustainable' pressure with morale at 'rock bottom' and employees 'leaving daily'. One worker at the health board said staff that are left are 'currently looking for other jobs'. They added: 'I would not recommend working for the NHS unfortunately'. A fellow NHS Grampian employee said: 'Many staff are looking for alternative careers as the working conditions are awful and unsustainable.' And another said: 'I am currently on long-term sick leave due to burnout/stress and the thought of having to return to my job has me suicidal at times.' Despite the challenges, staff highlight the 'amazing work' of the NHS with colleagues continuing to go 'above and beyond for their patients'. One said: 'It's a phenomenal organisation, that continues to improve and offer incredible services.' This is backed up by the most recent inspection of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in November 2023, which praised staff for providing 'caring, compassionate and responsive care'. In our exclusive interview with NHS Grampian chair Alison Evison on Monday, she claimed the health board does not have a significant problem with staff leaving. Meanwhile, an NHS Highland employee said: 'Everyone I know is working their hardest, whether they are in patient care or not. 'The system has never been busier, we have challenges such as recruitment and money is never readily available, but we all do our best.' An NHS Grampian employee, who agreed to speak to the P&J, said: 'Everyone that works there is not there for the money. We're there for the patients. 'I have seen a massive shift in my workload. Waiting times have gone up. 'In the past, I would never say no to a patient. But now I have to say no. 'We just don't have the resources. I would never go back to the wards now. I hate to think about the morale on the wards.' The lack of funding from the Scottish Government was mentioned by almost 70 respondents in our survey. On Monday, Health Secretary Neil Gray announced NHS Grampian has been placed under stricter scrutiny, following concerns over the board's escalating financial crisis. We previously revealed how the north-east health board has been underfunded for the last decade. A respondent from NHS Grampian said: 'It's demoralising to see those who have never stepped into our hospitals or clinics publicly criticise our efforts while ignoring the real issues – underfunding, workforce shortages and overwhelming demand.' Another said: 'The government wants NHS Grampian to save £70 million which is affecting everyone working there with vacancies being analysed and removed when they are needed.' A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said some of the individual stories described by the P&J were 'concerning', and urged anyone dealing with challenges to speak to their line manager, HR or one of their Speak Up Ambassadors. She added: 'It is important to keep the findings of this survey in context. We understand just over 200 members of NHS Grampian staff responded. 'In our last iMatter survey, which had 11,888 responses, a majority of staff said they would recommend NHS Grampian as a good place to work. 'We are not seeking to minimise the experience of those who completed the P&J survey; however, it cannot be taken as an indicator of the experience of all staff.' An NHS Highland spokesman said: 'We are delighted to have a well-trained and highly dedicated workforce who often go above and beyond expectations as they strive to meet the needs of patients and those we care for. 'They do so in a highly pressurised and publicly scrutinised environment. We endeavour to allow them to perform in a constructive and supported way and continually strive to improve their experience.' A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it dedicates more than £2.5m annually to support health and social care staff's wellbeing. She added: 'We will continue collaborating with NHS leaders and staff to identify and address areas of stress and explore additional actions to support the workforce.'
STV News
12-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Scottish Government steps up scrutiny of NHS health board amid crisis
The Scottish Government has stepped up its scrutiny of an NHS health board amid a deepening financial crisis. Health secretary Neil Gray announced on Monday that NHS Grampian had been escalated to Stage 4 of the national NHS performance framework. It's the highest level of intervention possible before the Scottish Government calls in its statutory powers. The framework is Scotland's way of monitoring health board performance and managing risk across NHS Scotland. Stage 1 indicates a 'steady state', stage 2 is for informal intervention, stage 3 is for enhanced monitoring and support, stage 4 indicates 'significant risks' for delivery, and stage 5 is reserved for cases where the level of risk is 'so significant' that boards require direct intervention using the government's statutory powers of direction. Following careful consideration, NHS Grampian has today been moved from stage 3 to 4. 'Staff in NHS Grampian continue to work tirelessly to deliver the high quality care we expect. However there are continuing concerns about financial management and associated operational pressures,' health secretary Neil Gray said. 'Escalation to Stage 4 will bring enhanced scrutiny and support from the Scottish Government and we will work with Grampian to ensure sustained improvement. This will include a whole system diagnostic to be carried out by an external consultancy to help inform a tailored package of support. 'I am confident that, through these actions, we will soon have a clear plan to stabilise the system and set the right conditions for the necessary, longer term transformational work – with the key aim being to ensure the sustainable delivery of high quality healthcare services for the benefit of local people.' The Scottish Government felt the formal escalation is 'necessary' to combat the 'significant risks' to both the local health board and to the overall NHS Scotland system. It comes just months after the Government placed NHS Grampian at the first formal stage of escalation – stage 3 – for its financial management in January. The move is expected to halt the rate of over-spending in NHS Grampian and address the immediate financial and operational pressures 'to stabilise the system'. Last month, STV News revealed that the health board owes the Scottish Government £92.2m after it had to borrow millions to plug a financial black hole. The Scottish Government bailed NHS Grampian out for the second year in a row after it racked up a £67.5m financial blackhole – the largest overspend of any NHS health board across Scotland. In light of these figures, the health board was ordered to make £39m worth of savings in the coming year. NHS Grampian performance has also been poor with the health board previously admitting that the 'time patients spend in our emergency departments, the time ambulances have to wait outside our hospitals and the time spent waiting for outpatient appointments' are areas where performance is 'not where we would like it to be'. 'NHS Grampian has too few acute hospital beds and too few staff in some key service areas to cope with demand, which continues to rise,' the health board said in April. 'Likewise, our local Healthcare Partnerships do not have enough capacity in the community to support patients to leave hospital – meaning we are unable to free-up beds for new patients to be admitted. 'In Grampian, there is not enough funding or physical space to make any significant improvement in these areas imminently – meaning, whilst we know what the issues are, there is no silver bullet solution to overcome them.' The Government said on Monday that the current stage 3 recovery plan and tailored government support is 'not producing the required improvements'. At stage 4, senior level external support is required, and NHS Grampian will report to an Assurance Board chaired by the Scottish Government and to the director general for Health and Social Care. The National Planning and Performance Oversight Group (NPPOG) will also be informed of progress on a regular basis. Although the onus remains on the NHS Board to deliver the required improvements, a 'whole system diagnostic' package will also be carried out by an external consultancy, which is expected to wrap up in June. That assessment will inform any support or decisions that may follow. The board will also come under new leadership this year, with interviews for the chief executive post also expected to take place in early June. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ministers step up scrutiny of NHS Grampian over spending concerns
The Scottish government is to increase scrutiny on NHS Grampian over concerns about its finances and governance. The health board has been escalated to stage four out of five on NHS Scotland's National Performance Framework. Health Secretary Neil Gray said there were "continuing concerns" about NHS Grampian's financial management. The health board said it welcomed the additional support and would work to "ensure sustained improvement". It was announced last month that NHS Grampian would receive a Scottish government loan of more than £67m to tackle an overspend. The Scottish government said the health board had been escalated to stage four following concerns about the board's "financial position, plans, leadership and governance and the impact these may have on the delivery of local services". Gray said NHS Grampian staff were working "tirelessly" but warned of "continuing concerns about financial management and associated operational pressures". He said ministers would increase scrutiny on the health board and work with it to "ensure sustained improvement". Gray said: "This will include a whole system diagnostic to be carried out by an external consultancy to help inform a tailored package of support." He added: "I am confident that, through these actions, we will soon have a clear plan to stabilise the system and set the right conditions for the necessary, longer term transformational work." He said the key aim was to ensure the "sustainable delivery of high quality healthcare services for the benefit of local people". An NHS Grampian spokesperson said: "As we continue to work closely with the Scottish government to ensure sustained improvement in our performance, we would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our staff and reassure the public that their care remains our priority." Health boards can move up and down the performance scale, and different levels of government support apply to each stage. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley were both at stage four in recent years. NHS Grampian given £67m Scottish government loan NHS Grampian in 'extremely challenging' position Government to have 'oversight' of NHS Forth Valley The five-step process to keep NHS boards in line
