A maximum wage should be implemented within the NHS to prevent the salaries of high-ranking management from affecting front-line services, Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood has said.
The AM for South Wales Central made the calls during plenary questions to Health Minister Lesley Griffiths this week. The office of Ms Wood last year used the Freedom of Information Act to expose the ten-year pay protection deals following NHS reorganisation for managers earning more than £50,000.
In response to the questioning, Ms Griffiths said restricting the pay of the highest paid NHS managers was something she may look into later this year.
During plenary this week, Ms Wood said:
“Minister, many Members will be aware of the unsatisfactory situation whereby some managers earning over £50,000 per annum received 10-year pay protection following NHS reorganisation. Top-heavy management is bound to have an impact on front-line services.
“What do you intend to do to ensure that the upper echelons of NHS management are not top heavy?
“Would you be prepared to conduct a review into the pay of top managers within the NHS? Would you also be prepared to consider introducing a maximum wage for management within the NHS, aiming for a ratio of around 10:1?”
In reply, Ms Griffiths said:
“Following the reorganisation in 2009, the number of top tier managers was greatly reduced. Their salary is set by a very well-known public sector organisation, and it is something that I may look at later in the year.”
