A HEALTH trust has been slammed for advertising for someone to help it save money – at a wage higher than the Prime Minister’s.

Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust is offering £1,000 a day for a turnaround director to oversee efficiency and cost saving measures.

The post, based at Broomfield Hospital, would be for at least six months.

The trust recently announced it has to make £24million of savings this year, equating to 11 per cent of its budget.

Chelmsford MP Simon Burns, who was recently appointed a Government health minister, criticised the move.

He said: “I am staggered to learn of Broomfield Hospital’s plans to appoint a turnaround director to look into efficiency issues and cost savings measures at a salary of £1,000 per day – which is significantly higher than the Prime Minister’s salary.

“It is insensitive, to say the least, that when the priority for the NHS is to protect frontline services and patient care, Mid Essex Hospitals Trust is considering spending this level of money on a salary to look into how to save costs.

“I am seeking an immediate justification from the chief executive as to what is going on and why the decision has been taken to appoint this new staff member.”

Public service Unison has also voiced its opposition.

Regional organiser Maurice Sheehan said: “The £1,000-a-day salary to be awarded to a NHS turnaround director is socially divisive and grossly irresponsible. “It will demotivate health staff as well as giving the lie to George Osborne’s claim that ‘we are all in this together’ when it comes to sorting out the nation’s finances.

“The question has to be raised as to why a turnaround director for one NHS Trust is to be paid far in excess of the Prime Minister, who is tasked with turning round the whole nation’s finances.

“NHS staff asked to accept a pay freeze will not be confident the Government was truly serious when it said to them ‘we want you to help us find those savings so we can cut public spending in a way that is fair and responsible’.

In a statement, the trust has defended the move.

It said: “Like many other NHS organisations, we are facing significant financial challenges this year, so we have taken the decision to seek, short-term, external support to help us deliver our efficiency and cost savings plan.

“We need to offer the appropriate salary to attract the right candidate to this post, as we are looking for a highly experienced individual with a proven track record of delivering results in the area of efficiency and cost savings, to work closely with the Trust Board for a short period to drive this forward, while protecting services and patient care.”