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The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Crisis-hit NHS bosses raking in MASSIVE salaries as frontline services cry out for cash
SCORES of NHS bosses are raking in a combined £10million a year while patients endure lengthy backlogs for treatment, we can reveal. Some 65 health board chiefs take home six-figure salaries, with top earner Paul Bachoo, of Grampian, on £252,500 — almost £117,000 more than First Minister John Swinney. 4 4 4 Calling for wages to be slashed, Labour's Carol Mochan said: 'Millions is spent propping up a web of bureaucracy while frontline services are struggling to cope.' Our figures show that 65 of NHS executives' top earners make more than £100,000, with several clearing £200,000. And calls have been made for some of the £9,833,094 wage bill to be diverted to struggling frontline services after cancer treatment waiting times hit a record high. It emerged that 40 health execs earn more than First Minister John Swinney's salary of £135,605. While 17 rake in higher than Sir Keir Starmer's 2024 wage of £172,153 — as their patients face lengthening delays for crucial care. Caithness-based health campaigner Peter Todd has led demands for red tape to be slashed. I bet not many of these bosses, some of whom earn more than the PM, do a night shift in A&E, regularly meet patients and travel out of their Ivory Tower Peter ToddCaithness-based health campaigner He said: 'I bet not many of these bosses, some of whom earn more than the PM, do a night shift in A&E, regularly meet patients and travel out of their Ivory Tower. 'And who decides upon the make-up of health boards? Because some seem ridiculously bloated.' The Scottish Sun on Sunday's findings show 12 health board chiefs on around £200,000 or more. Acute medical director Paul Bachoo — also a consultant vascular surgeon — was top on £252,500 while his NHS Grampian colleague Dr Hugh Bishop earned £232,500. Ayrshire and Arran medical director Dr Crawford McGuffie was second-highest earner on £247,500. Borders boss Dr Lynn McCallum made £227,500 while Dumfries and Galloway's Dr Ken Donaldson and Fife's Dr Christopher McKenna each commanded £212,500. Dr Chris Deighan, of NHS Lanarkshire, earned £207,500. Others on £200,000-plus salaries were Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Dr Scott Davidson and NHS Lothian's Tracey Gillies. Six — health board chief execs Jann Gardner and Professor Caroline Hiscox plus directors Dr James Cotton, Tim Patterson, Dr Emilia Crichton and Boyd Peters — earned between £190,000 and £200,000. Other big earners include £142,500-a-year NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter — who has faced calls to quit over the £250,000 cost of the Sandie Peggie employment tribunal. Meanwhile figures show waiting lists have doubled leaving the equivalent of nearly 900,000 adults awaiting hospital appointments. With cancer waiting times at a record high and patients struggling to get a GP appointment, there is no excuse for scarce resources being wasted on excessive bureaucracy Brian Whittle Tory shadow public health minister And spending watchdogs have underlined how the NHS remains strapped for cash despite huge funding boosts. Tory shadow public health minister Brian Whittle urged ministers to spend 'less on bloated management and more on frontline care.' The MSP added: 'With cancer waiting times at a record high and patients struggling to get a GP appointment, there is no excuse for scarce resources being wasted on excessive bureaucracy.' Vowing to cut the number of health boards if Labour wins next year's Scottish Parliament election, counterpart Carol Mochan weighed in: 'Scottish Labour will slash red tape so funding goes to frontline staff and services.' We totted up wages using mid-points of salary ranges provided by health boards. NHS Grampian emerged at the top with a £990,000 executive salary bill ahead of Greater Glasgow and Clyde's of around £862,500. Elsewhere Lanarkshire's five chiefs banked £812,500, six NHS Forth Valley bosses made £773,094 and five NHS Fife executives were paid £762,500 collectively. NHS FAT CATS EXPOSED Paul Bachoo - Salary £252k Acute Medical Director, NHS Grampian. Average surgery wait: 207 days. 1 in 10 waiting 792 days. Dr Crawford McGuffie - Salary £247k Medical Director, NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Average surgery wait: 150 days. 1 in 10 waiting 518 days. Dr Hugh Bishop - Salary £232k Medical Director, NHS Grampian. Average surgery wait: 207 days. 1 in 10 waiting 792 days. Dr Lynn McCallum - Salary £227k Medical Director, NHS Borders. Average surgery wait: 150 days. 1 in 10 waiting 472 days. Ken Donaldson - Salary £212k Medical Director, NHS Dumfries & Galloway. Average surgery wait: 166 days. 1 in 10 waiting 413 days. Dr Christopher McKenna - Salary £212k Medical Director, NHS Fife. Average surgery wait: 117 days. 1 in 10 waiting 340 days. Dr Chris Deighan - Salary £207k Medical Director, NHS Lanarkshire. Average surgery wait: 143 days. 1 in 10 waiting 466 days Dr Scott Davidson- Salary £202k Medical Director, NHS Glasgow & Clyde. Average surgery wait: 210 days. 1 in 10 waiting 651 days. Tracey Gillies - Salary £202k Medical Director, NHS Lothian. Average surgery wait: 181 days. 1 in 10 waiting 546 days. Jann Gardner - Salary £197k Chief Executive, NHS Glasgow & Clyde. Average surgery wait: 210 days. 1 in 10 waiting 651 days. Prof Caroline Hiscox - Salary £197k Chief Executive, NHS Lothian Average surgery wait: 181 days. 1 in 10 waiting 546 days Dr James Cotton - Salary £197k Medical Director, NHS Tayside. Average surgery wait: 199 days. 1 in 10 waiting 667 days. Nats previously guaranteed patients the right to an operation within 12 weeks, or 84 days, of treatment being agreed. But stats from March showed an average 167-day wait for inpatient or day case surgery. Worst was NHS Grampian — home to some of the country's top-earning health executives — where one in ten patients faced a staggering 792-day hold-up. Slamming the figures, Shimeon Lee, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, hit out: 'The NHS desperately needs to reduce its bloated bureaucracy. 'Despite staffing taking up a huge chunk of the budget, it isn't turning into enough doctors and nurses. "Instead, it's going to an ever-expanding layer of management.' Some earnings calculations do not include other payments such as pension benefits. Former NHS Tayside chief Catherine Cowan received an £70,347 exit package on stepping down from her £217,500-a-year role in 2023. Bosses in Ayrshire and Arran, Fife, Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Tayside stressed some executives and directors also have frontline clinical duties. And they told how salaries are overseen by a national performance committee. Labour last January proposed cutting the number of health boards from 14 to three with the Tories also open to the changes. Then-Social Care Minister Maree Todd, said at the time the idea was 'being bounced around'. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Salaries of NHS chief executives and senior staff are independently assessed and reflect their roles as leaders of large public sector organisations. "Medical directors are NHS consultants paid on consultant terms and conditions. 'We've committed to reforming our public services, making them more efficient, high-quality and effective. 'We are investing £21.7billion, including £200million to reduce waiting times and ensure patients get the right care.' 4
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Redundancy threat for up to 100 workers who help maintain key Dumfries and Galloway roads
The Unite union claims roads maintenance firm Amey is looking at axing jobs from the workforce assigned to routes such as the A75, A76 and A701. Up to 100 workers who help maintain key roads in Dumfries and Galloway are facing the axe. The Unite union claims roads maintenance firm Amey is looking at axing jobs from the workforce assigned to its south west Scotland trunk roads contract. That includes staff who look after major Dumfries and Galloway roads such as the M74, A75, A76, A77 and A701. Unite industrial officer, David McGurk, said: 'Unite has been informed by Amey that up to 100 jobs are at immediate risk. The workers are currently employed on a road maintenance contract funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government across Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Ayrshire. 'Unite will do all we can to support these highly skilled workers who are ensuring that our nation's infrastructure is safe, reliable and up to the highest possible standard. 'We have asked Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, for action from government to ascertain what can be done to save these jobs including an immediate review of the contracts awarded to Amey.' A spokeswoman for Amey said: 'Due to the changing needs in the delivery of the service we have reviewed the operational structure of the business. As a result, Amey has entered a 45-day consultation process with a number of employees on our south west Scotland network management contract. 'A very small proportion of employees will be impacted with most of these achieved through the offer of voluntary redundancy. We will continue to deliver value for money services and will work closely with all affected employees and trade union representatives to ensure the consultation is fair, transparent, and supportive.' South Scotland Labour MSP Carol Mochan raised the matter with John Swinney during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood on Thursday. She said: 'The A77 is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland and causes constant disruption to the economy of the south west due to its poor state of repair. My constituents have frequent lengthy waits at road works and often face miles of diversions. 'Will the First Minister travel that road with me and explain to my constituents why 100 workers who should be helping to maintain that important road are losing their jobs?' Mr Swinney replied: 'I understand that those issues are the subject of consultation between Amey and the relevant trade unions. I want to make sure that that consultation is done properly and in accordance with the government's fair work principles. 'I understand the importance of Carol Mochan's point, but there is a process to go through on those issues, and the outcome that will be achieved through that might not be the one that Carol Mochan fears. 'I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to consider the issues that have been raised and to reply to Carol Mochan about how those points can be properly and fully addressed.' A spokesman for Transport Scotland added: 'We have been made aware of the situation at Amey and are awaiting further details of the confidential process they are currently undertaking. 'It is essential that a robust level of service is maintained as part of our maintenance contract in the south west trunk road unit.'
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ayrshire road maintenance jobs at risk as Amey plan cuts
Up to 100 road maintenance workers could be made redundant after trunk road operator Amey announced job cuts. Road maintenance workers in Ayrshire could be facing redundancy after trunk road operator Amey announced job cuts. The firm has began a 45-day consultation period with "a very small proportion of employees" after an operation review of their business. Up to 100 workers could be made redundant across Southwest Scotland including many in Ayrshire as a result of the plans. Unite the Union have said that they will "do all we can" to support the people affected and have called on Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop to take action. Transport Scotland have said they are aware of the situation but are awaiting further details from Amey. South Scotland MSP Carol Mochan raised the issue at First Minister's Questions last week and highlighted the A77, one of the trunk roads maintained by Amey, as "one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland". Ms Mochan has also said she will fight to ensure no one employed by Amey in Southwest Scotland loses their job. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, she said: 'The First Minister might be aware that Amey plans to make up to 100 road maintenance workers in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway redundant. 'Those workers are funded by a Scottish Government contract. The A77 is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland and causes constant disruption to the economy of the southwest due to its poor state of repair. 'My constituents have frequent lengthy waits at road works and often face miles of diversions. 'Will the First Minister travel that road with me and explain to my constituents why 100 workers who should be helping to maintain that important road are losing their jobs?' In response, First Minister John Swinney said: 'I understand that those issues are the subject of consultation between Amey and the relevant trade unions. 'I want to make sure that that consultation is done properly and in accordance with the Government's fair work principles. I understand the importance of Carol Mochan's point, but there is a process to go through on those issues, and the outcome that will be achieved through that might not be the one that Carol Mochan fears. 'I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to consider the issues that have been raised and to reply to Carol Mochan about how those points can be properly and fully addressed.' David McGurk, Unite industrial officer, said: "Unite has been informed by Amey that up to 100 jobs are at immediate risk. The workers are currently employed on a road maintenance contract funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government across Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Ayrshire. "Unite will do all we can to support these highly skilled workers who are ensuring that our nation's infrastructure is safe, reliable and up to the highest possible standard. "We have asked Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, for action from government to ascertain what can be done to save these jobs including an immediate review of the contracts awarded to Amey." A spokesperson for Amey said: 'Due to the changing needs in the delivery of the service we have reviewed the operational structure of the business. As a result, Amey has entered a 45-day consultation process with a number of employees on our South-West Scotland Network Management contract. 'A very small proportion of employees will be impacted with most of these achieved through the offer of voluntary redundancy. 'We will continue to deliver value for money services and will work closely with all affected employees and trade union representatives to ensure the consultation is fair, transparent, and supportive.' A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'We have been made aware of the situation at Amey and are awaiting further details of the confidential process they are currently undertaking. 'It is essential that a robust level of service is maintained as part of our maintenance contract in the South West trunk road unit.'
STV News
29-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
Ministers failing on 'lifesaving pledge' to increase cervical screening
Labour has accused the Scottish Government of failing to deliver on a 'lifesaving pledge' to improve access to cervical screening, after it emerged only one Scottish health board has piloted a home-testing programme. According to information obtained by Scottish Labour using freedom of information laws, NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the only health board where self-sampling – which enables women to take cervical samples at home – has been piloted. All other Scottish health boards confirmed they have not yet piloted a programme. Labour said this breaches the Government's commitment to make self-sampling available more widely, as set out in its 2021 Women's Health Plan. The plan stated self-sampling could boost take-up of cervical screening by potentially overcoming the 'barriers' associated with the standard in-person test – including previous trauma, embarrassment and difficulties accessing appointments. It added the take-up of cervical screening was 'unequal', with women from higher socio-economic areas being more likely to attend screening than those from more deprived areas. Labour said around one in three women currently do not undergo regular checks, with the majority being in more deprived areas of the country. The party also pointed out that this week NHS England announced it will begin offering self-sampling tests at home as a means of boosting take-up. Scottish Labour women's health spokeswoman Carol Mochan said: 'Every day, women are being let down by the SNP Government when it comes to their health. 'The SNP promised to improve access to cervical screening, yet this failure to actually deliver on a lifesaving pledge will leave many of the most vulnerable women at risk. 'This failure falls against a backdrop of broken promise after broken promise on women's health, and it is those living in our most deprived communities who are suffering the most from this failure.' Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women aged 25 to 35 in Scotland, and Labour pointed out cancer charities have backed self-sampling as a way to save more lives. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We welcome the recommendation on June 24, 2025 from the UK National Screening Committee, an independent expert group that advises all four UK nations, which recognises that self-sampling could improve accessibility and increase uptake of cervical screening. 'The screening programme is working to offer the first self-sampling kits in Scotland by spring 2026, and will focus particularly on reducing inequalities. 'The initial rollout will therefore focus on some of the most deprived areas with some of the highest numbers of under-screened women.' 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
The National
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP minister leaves door open to US war planes refuelling at Prestwick
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson refused to say whether the American Air Force would be banned from using the state-owned Ayrshire airport, which is often used by allied militaries as a refuelling stop. Labour backbencher Carol Mochan (below) asked whether the Scottish Government would rule out allowing America and Israel access while they carried out strikes on Iran. (Image: Carol Mochan) She said: 'Can he assure my constituents that sites like Prestwick Airport will not be used to facilitate attacks on Iran by the USA or indeed to support Israeli aircraft given these efforts have no UN backing whatsoever? And can he be clear what US activity is currently happening at the Prestwick Airport site?' It comes after former first minister Humza Yousaf warned that the Scottish Government risked becoming complicit in war crimes if it continued to allow access to the Americans. Robertson said that he had 'not seen any information that would support any conclusion about involvement of Scottish facilities being used directly in terms of military attacks on Iran' saying that previous strikes did not involve the airport. READ MORE: Glasgow arts centre shut down after pro-Palestine protest occupies building American bombers were refuelled 'in the air' before bombing Iran and then returned back to the US without stopping at Prestwick, Robertson said. He added: 'I understand the point that she's making more generally about Prestwick Airport, if she has any information that would support the conclusion, the concern that she has, I would be grateful to hear that. 'We remain in dialogue with the UK Government – her party is in government in the UK, perhaps she would take the opportunity through her good offices to raise this with responsible UK ministers. 'In terms of devolved responsibilities, we will do everything that we can but she will appreciate that there are limits.' (Image: PA) Later asked by Tory MSP Stephen Kerr (above) whether there were any formal arrangements with the US to allow military access to Prestwick Airport, Robertson replied: 'I would have to check the status. 'I'm not aware of any memoranda of understanding but he will appreciate, it's a matter of public record, Prestwick Airport is used by the US Air Force, the Canadian Royal Airforce, a number of air forces from the Middle East.' Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party, said that the Scottish Government must ban American military planes from using the site. In a statement, he said: 'It's not Kneecap or Palestine Action who are the threat to our society and planet but those complicit in the genocide and war. 'We should be ceasing fuelling US war planes at Prestwick not deplatforming an Irish rap band at a music event.'
