In July, the TaxPayers’ Alliance published their now-annual NHS Rich List. Among its key findings were that in 2024-25, there were 1,603 NHS managers on a salary of £100,000 or more. This included 17 who had salaries over £300,000, and 574 senior managers who had a salary greater than the prime minister’s (£172,153).
“Taking a leaf out of our local council’s book, they were one of only three trusts for which “No accounts have been published.”
Of course, it’s not just salary that matters: 292 NHS senior managers received at least £300,000 in total remuneration (comprising salary, expenses, benefits, bonuses and pension benefits). The highest salary belonged to a senior manager at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, receiving £377,500 (£382,500 total remuneration). The trust was ranked 41 out of 140 in England for A&E waiting times, a solid but unremarkable performance on this indicator. Nottingham University Hospitals (131 of 140 for A&E waiting times in England) had a chief nurse who received a total remuneration of £ 712,500. The full research paper makes fascinating reading.
Being the Croydon Constitutionalists, we would like to bring you details from our own local Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. Taking a leaf out of our local council’s book, they were one of only three trusts for which “No accounts have been published.” Helpfully, the Trust does suggest that “Further details of staff and board members’ allowances and expenses may be obtained by emailing ch-tr.foil@nhs.net.” More helpful would have been publishing their information, like 193 other trusts.
“574 senior managers who had a salary greater than the prime minister’s”
Looking at other trusts serving south London, the most striking figures include:
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals (some of these were shared with St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust to which 50% recharged. Figures obtained by combining accounts).
- Group deputy chief executive officer, who received a salary of £265,000 + £17,500 bonus, plus £1,591,250 pension-related benefits. A total of £1,875,000.
- Group Chief Nursing Officer. A salary of £185,000 plus £1,103,750 pension-related benefits for a total £1,290,000.
St George’s University Hospitals
- Group Chief Executive’s salary of £335,000 (shared, 50% recharged with Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals).
South London and Maudsley
- Chief Executive’s salary of £232,500 plus a £321,250 pension for a total £552,500.
King’s College Hospital (which includes Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley)
- Chief Executive’s salary of £337,500.
- Chief Nurse’s salary of £197,500 plus £461,250 pension for a total of £657,500.
South West London and St George’s Mental Health
- Chief Executive’s total remuneration of £337,500.
- Chief Medical Officer’s total remuneration of £367,500.
These and other details are available in the Full Dataset.
“I would like to think most of what happens in the NHS is about living, but in the Midlands Partnership University they seem to have a specific ‘Director for lived experience”
National Picture
Of the 1474 jobs listed some job titles leap out of the data. Whilst the title may not comprehensibly cover the role undertaken, and no doubt many do incredibly worthwhile work, at first glance some might be categorised as ‘nice work if you can get it’.
The Royal Papworth Hospital has an ‘Advisory non-voting member’ receiving a total remuneration of £147,500. I would like to think most of what happens in the NHS is about living, but in the Midlands Partnership University they seem to have a specific ‘Director for lived experience’ on a total remuneration of £157,500.
You could argue the value of one’s lived experience is enhanced by culture. Thankfully the University Hospitals Sussex have this covered with a ‘Chief culture and organisational development officer’ receiving £167,500 per annum. As does Mersey Care with a ‘Chief people and culture officer/deputy chief executive for non-clinical services’ receiving £187,500, Walsall Healthcare, via a ‘Director of culture and people’ receiving £167,500, East Lancashire Hospitals with a ‘Executive director of people and culture’ receiving £187,500, Essex Partnership University whose ‘Executive director of people and culture’ receives £327,500, North East London where there is an ‘Executive director of people and culture’ receiving £152,500 this compares to the ‘Executive director of people and culture’ at Nottinghamshire Healthcare receiving £142,500, or the one at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals receiving £162,500. Of course only being a ‘Director of people and culture’ brings your total package in at £147,500 at James Paget University Hospitals.
“Thankfully the NHS keeps receiving the record budgets, so vital in funding HR executives across the country”
Some of these roles overlap with HR or ‘People’ as they are the role is now often referred to. At the Bradford Teaching Hospitals this role is covered by the ‘Chief people and purpose officer’ receiving £172,500 (with great purpose no doubt). Directors of people and HR variously receive £147,500 at the Portsmouth Hospitals University, £135,500 at Central London Community Healthcare, £142,500 at Sheffield Health and Social Care, and £157,500 at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Thankfully the NHS keeps receiving the record budgets, so vital in funding HR executives across the country.
NHS Trusts don’t run themselves, they need a ‘Chief corporate affairs officer’ (total remuneration (£232,500) at Alder Hey Children’s Trust, or a ‘Chief of strategy and partnerships’ (£227,500) in Bolton, or a ‘Chief of strategy and transformation’ (£157,500) in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Trust, or as the Royal Cornwall Hospitals have a ‘Chief performance, partnerships and transformation officer’ (£192,500).
You might wonder how we the public know all this (aside from the great work done by the TaxPayers’ Alliance). Well, I’m pleased to note the South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust has that covered with a ‘Better communities programme director’ (£192,500) and the Sussex Partnership covers it with a ‘Chief communications officer’ (£162,500). Trusts like Northumbria Healthcare, Liverpool University Hospitals, University Hospitals of North Midlands, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh, and South West London and St George’s Mental Health, have this crucial role covered with a ‘Director of communication’, ‘Director of communications’, or a ‘Director of communications and stakeholder’ on total packages ranging from £107,500 to £232,500.
The data and research is really worth a look.
“NHS Trusts don’t run themselves, they need a ‘Chief corporate affairs officer’ (total remuneration (£232,500) at Alder Hey Children’s Trust”
