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Senior leaders at two of Scotland’s most scrutinized health boards have been awarded temporary pay increases of 10% for spearheading a major reform initiative within the country’s health service. Executives from NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have received salary boosts that could add up to £20,000 annually in recognition of their roles in driving improvements across the health boards.
This move has sparked criticism from trade unions, who highlight that many frontline NHS workers routinely take on additional responsibilities without corresponding pay rises. Unison’s head of health, Matt McLaughlin, described the decision as “a real slap in the face” for NHS staff and patients, calling on the Health Secretary to intervene and rectify the perceived inequality. Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing Scotland echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the lack of transparency regarding the new committees’ roles and the additional burden placed on staff without fair compensation.
The pay increases are linked to the creation of west and east subnational planning and delivery committees (SPDCs), a Scottish government initiative aimed at promoting closer collaboration between the country’s 14 health boards. Although the boards will maintain their existing geographic boundaries and governance structures, these SPDCs are intended to address persistent challenges such as long waiting times and treatment delays. Chief executives and chairpersons from NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been entrusted with establishing the committees, which reportedly involves taking time away from their usual duties.
According to recent financial accounts, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s chief executive Jann Gardner earns between £195,000 and £200,000 annually, with the board chairwoman Dr Lesley Thomson KC receiving £55,000 to £60,000. In NHS Lothian, Chief Executive Prof Caroline Hiscox’s salary falls within the same range as Gardner’s, while their board chairman, Prof John Connaghan, earns between £50,000 and £55,000. Both organizations confirmed that the pay uplift follows NHS Scotland guidance on remunerating individuals for temporary additional responsibilities beyond their standard roles. It remains unclear how much time executives are dedicating specifically to the SPDC responsibilities, but the initial expectation is that these additional duties will span nine to twelve months, with other director-level appointments planned and likely to attract similar temporary pay enhancements
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