The new boss of the north-east’s troubled health board is in line to bank a salary bigger than Prime Minister David Cameron’s.
The job of putting NHS Grampian back on track after a string of crises could command a pay packet of £151,493 – almost £10,000 more than Mr Cameron gets.
The top rate on offer for the chief executive’s role is also more than First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s £140,847 wage.
Last night, Press and Journal readers criticised the health board for offering such a large salary.
But NHS Grampian defended the move and insisted executive pay rates were “nationally agreed”.
And a Scottish Government minister said the sheer scale of the area covered by the health board and the size of the job facing whoever lands the role could justify the bumper package.
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The post has been advertised with a salary ranging from £111,155 to £151,493.
The health board lurched from one crisis to another last year as its chairman, chief executive and medical director all departed and senior clinicians claimed medics were “exhausted” because of staff shortages.
Consultants also said patients were being put at risk because key roles in the accident and emergency department were vacant.
It emerged there had been 625 complaints about staff shortages from NHS Grampian’s own workers, and the board was criticised for flying in a consultant from Jamaica to cover a gap in the accident and emergency department.
Former chief executive Richard Carey and ex-chairman Bill Howatson announced they were quitting within weeks of other in October.
Medical director Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen also left.
Malcolm Wright is the board’s interim chief executive.
And North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker said last night that whoever gets the job on a permanent basis would have to “deliver results quickly” to justify the wages on offer.
He added: “What I would say is clearly this is going to be a very well remunerated post and it is a high salary for what is going to be a big job for whoever takes it on.
“Given that, we’d hope to see results coming from this chief executive as soon as possible, ensuring they start to deal with the real issues like the recruitment crisis.
“At the end of the day we understand it is a big job but NHS Grampian funds are limited. It is a very high salary, whoever gets it is going to have to prove that they are worth it and get results quickly.
“I do hope that we get someone with the appropriate skills to take up this position. It is a huge opportunity. It is going to be a tough job and it is going to be an opportunity for someone to relish.
“Everyone wants NHS Grampian to move on and appoint a new chief executive who will be part of that. They will have a huge job to do.”
Moray MSP and Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said the sheer size of the Grampian region might justify the money on offer.
He said: “Given that NHS Grampian covers a population of 500,000 people and has a budget of £800million, clearly someone of the right caliber and leadership qualities is absolutely necessary to take forward local health services.”
Professor Jamie Weir, chairman of the Patient Action Co-ordination Team (Pact), said: “It is going to require someone who has experience before to cope with the changes required.
“The important thing from the patient point of view is we get the right person in at the right time.”
The job advert includes a message from NHS Grampian chairman Professor Stephen Logan, who said the role was an “excellent opportunity for an exceptional person”.
He adds the board wants someone with “vision, enthusiasm and energy” who would be at “the heart of leading transformational change across NHS Grampian”.