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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
The public sector sicknote epidemic: They're 60% more likely to be off than staff who work for private firms
Public sector workers are 60 per cent more likely to be off work due to illness than employees in the private sector. The extent of Britain's sick note epidemic is exposed in Office for National Statistics figures that reveal 148.9 million working days were lost last year, equivalent to 4.4 days for each worker. And the share of such absences among public sector employees was 2.9 per cent, significantly higher than the private sector's 1.8 per cent. The ONS claimed it could be explained by differences in types of jobs in the sectors and that workers in state-funded jobs were more likely to be paid for being off than those in private employment. But John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers are fed up with footing the bill for a public sector that's far more likely to be off sick. 'It reflects poor management and weak accountability. In the private sector, this would raise serious questions – in the public sector, it's too often ignored. Ministers must set clearer expectations, better oversight and ensure taxpayers aren't left footing the bill for unchecked absenteeism.' Sick rates have been higher in the public sector for every year on record, the ONS said. But in both cases, rates were lower last year than in 2023. The overall number of working days lost last year was 14.9 million down from 2023 but still 9.9 million higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The sickness absence rate of 2.5 per cent for women was higher than for men, at 1.6 per cent. James Cockett, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said some public sector roles – healthcare, education, social care and policing – could increase exposure to illness and also often be 'physically and emotionally demanding'. He said this could lead to greater rates of stress-related absence He added more public sector employers offer occupational sick pay compared with private sector employers.' Len Shackleton, of the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said: 'Private sector workers are more likely to be employed in small workplaces where absence is more noticeable and they may feel obliged not to let colleagues down. 'Their jobs may also be less secure than those in the public sector, again a motive for 'presenteeism' [where employees go to work despite being sick] which public sector workers don't feel to the same extent.'
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Number of council tax dodgers soars to highest level since 2009
The number of households not paying their council tax has risen to 4.4 million, the highest amount in 14 years. Research by Debt Justice, a campaign group, found the figure increased by 40pc last year, from 3.2 million in 2023. It amounts to the largest number of households in council tax arrears since 2009, when the global financial crash wiped out families' savings. In total, taxpayers owed around £6bn to cash-strapped local authorities last year, up from £5.5bn the year prior. Councils are already facing a £2.3bn funding gap this year, according to the Local Government Association. Campaigners said the figures show local authorities should focus on the 'growing crisis' of tax arrears rather than increasing council tax. Nine in ten town halls increased the tax by the maximum 5pc this year, bringing the average cost of a Band D property to £2,280. And a nationwide clampdown on second home owners has left them being charged double council tax. The premium, which has been introduced by more than 200 councils, means the average bill on a second home is £3,672. Telegraph Money is campaigning for the levy to be abolished. John O'Connell, of lobby group the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'With a record 4.4m people now in council tax debt, town hall bosses should be focusing on helping struggling households, not hammering second homeowners with punitive premiums. 'Hiking taxes on one group won't solve the growing crisis facing millions of others.' Labour councils twice more likely to chase debt Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that Labour councils are chasing almost twice as much unpaid council tax as Conservative-led authorities. Our analysis showed councils are already chasing £4.4bn in unpaid taxes. Of this, more than £2.5bn was owed to councils run by Labour, compared to £673m owed to Tory councils. Debt Justice highlighted that people who miss a council tax payment are generally from the poorest households. The Government is currently considering a ban on the use of bailiffs to chase arrears and will publish a consultation later this year. Andrew Dixon, of campaign group Fairer Share, said: 'I am deeply concerned by Debt Justice's recent findings. This alarming increase underscores the urgent need to reform our outdated and regressive council tax system.' Councillor Adam Hug, housing spokesman for the LGA said: 'All councils make every effort to collect the that which is owing to them and 96 per cent of council tax is collected in the year in which it is due. 'When there are instances of unpaid council tax, it is often due to complex circumstances or people already facing hardship, and local authorities seek to work with individuals to work out a payment plan and avoid them lapsing into debt.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's staff bill rockets to more than £1million a year - almost double what it was in 2023
Sir Lindsay Hoyle 's entourage of staff has almost doubled in just two years, it can be revealed. Details of the Commons Speaker's staffing bill, obtained by the Mail, reveal it has ballooned to more than £1 million a year. This was up from £550,000 at the beginning of 2023. And the number of those employed by his office jumped from 12 to 21 in that period, as he looks to expand his centuries-old job into a full-blown diplomatic role. Meanwhile, separate disclosures made under the Freedom of Information Act reveal at least £55,000 was splurged refurbishing the four bathrooms and kitchen in his grace-and-favour Commons flat. One source said the cost soared after three bathrooms were decked out in marble, which his office did not deny. The overhaul was part of a lavish £7million refurbishment of Speaker's House, a grand five-storey building in the heart of the Parliamentary estate which offers sweeping views over the Thames. It comes amid growing questions about the scale of Sir Lindsay's travel expenses, which have surged past £300,000 since he became Speaker in 2019. He has taken his wife on several trips along with up to four staff. On his latest jaunt to Malaysia, over February half-term, he spent more than £25,000 on business class flights, hotels and restaurants for him and staff. John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'The Speaker seems to be having a jolly old time racking up the spending with a growing posse of staff adding to the soaring travel costs. But this surging expenditure is all paid for by taxpayers struggling with "awful April" as bills and taxes continue to climb. 'That includes his constituents in Chorley. Lindsay Hoyle should look at himself in one of his many grand mirrors and ask whether he's really showing taxpayers and their cash the respect it deserves.' Details of the staffing bill show that, up until February this year (March 2025 data is not available yet), there were 19 staff employed in the Speaker's Office at a cost of £905,148. A further two apprentices, working in other areas on the estate, were also on the payroll at a cost of £103,880. By comparison, the headcount for March 2023 was 12 employees at a cost of £553,063. But the number of roles created has grown as the Speaker's travel bills have, and cover the areas of 'parliamentary affairs and chamber affairs', 'private office and correspondence', 'special projects and events', 'visits and protocol' and the 'Speaker's apprenticeship academy'. Last month the Mail revealed how Sir Lindsay has splurged more than £300,000 on 25 foreign jaunts since becoming Speaker in 2019. A spokesman for the Speaker's Office said: 'As would be expected, a range of staff employed by the House Administration support the functioning of the Speaker's Office, including the Speaker's parliamentary and chamber duties, the private office, special projects and visits and protocol.'
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS managers paid six-figure salaries despite poor performance
Hundreds of senior NHS managers are pocketing six-figure salaries despite poor performance at their trusts. Over 500 health service managers received higher salaries than the Prime Minister in the financial year 2023-24, according to new analysis by the Taxpayers' Alliance. The highest-paid manager in the NHS was the head of a trust which ranked 95th out of 136 in England for waiting times in A&E. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has announced a new system where NHS chief executives who cut waiting times could be awarded bonuses of up to 10 per cent. He also announced that the Government would award pay rises to senior NHS managers of 3.25 per cent, in line with recommendations by the NHS Senior Salaries Review Body. According to the TaxPayers' Alliance, 1,694 senior managers at the NHS received more than £100,000 in remuneration, including salary, benefits, bonuses and pension contributions, between 2023 and 2024. More than 250 were in receipt of salaries between £100,000 and £200,000 and 17 were on more than £300,000. The highest-paid NHS executive was Ann James, the chief executive of University Hospitals Plymouth, who received almost £400,000 in total remuneration. The trust with the lowest percentage of A&E patients being seen within four hours, East Cheshire, had eight senior managers who received more than £100,000 in total remuneration. Rachel Charlton, the trust's director of people and culture, received £367,500 in 2023-24. Paul Bachoo, the acute medical and portfolio lead in NHS Grampian, in Aberdeenshire, was awarded £242,500 that year, making him the highest-paid senior NHS manager in Scotland. This was despite the trust being ranked 10 out of 14 for A&E waiting times in Scotland. Under the so-called 'carrot and stick reforms', the Government is looking to temporarily boost the pay offering of leadership vacancies in poorly performing trusts of up to £45,000. But Mr Streeting warned that failing senior managers could have up to £15,000 docked from their wages if their trusts run into debt or do not deliver improvements. Ed Argar, the shadow health secretary, said that with the reforms Labour planned to 'hand generous bonuses to NHS managers for simply doing what they are already paid to do as part of their jobs. 'Patients will rightly be shocked, and ask why Labour aren't focusing instead on making sure those who are already very well paid are delivering the results taxpayers have a right to expect.' He added: 'At a time when families are facing financial pressure due to Labour's reckless jobs tax and uncertainty surrounding winter fuel payments for vulnerable pensioners following Keir Starmer's partial U-turn, diverting public funds into executive bonus schemes, instead of investing that money in front-line care for patients, is simply wrong.' Sir Keir Starmer announced in March that NHS England, the quango that runs the health service, would be scrapped and merged back into the Government. The Prime Minister said that it would lead to 'hundreds of millions of pounds' being redirected to the front line and cutting waiting lists. Last week, doctors were awarded a 4 per cent pay rise and nurses a 3.6 per cent pay rise. But the British Medical Association threatened strike action, saying the rise was not sufficient. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'These figures relate to the previous government's term in office. This government is introducing tough new measures in relation to senior managers' pay, to drive progress on cutting waiting lists. The NHS should pay to attract top talent, but there can be no more rewards to failure. 'Under our new 'carrot and stick' approach, we will offer incentives to recruit top talent to struggling trusts, while leaders who fail to cut waiting times will have their pay docked.' 'Improve care for patients' An NHS spokesman said: 'NHS managers play a key role in delivering exceptional care and services for patients – and new plans announced last week will strengthen the link between managers' pay and operational performance to improve care for patients.' A Scottish government spokesperson 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.' The NHS announced on Monday that new cutting-edge radiotherapy machines will be rolled out to save as many as 13,000 appointments from being lost to equipment breakdown. The machines, funded by a £70 million investment from the Government, will be installed at hospitals across the country from August as part of its plans to improve cancer care. The technology will be used by 28 hospitals and can cut the rounds of radiotherapy needed, reaching cancers in harder-to-treat areas such as the chest, abdomen and pelvis.
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.'
