After it was revealed this week that a Marbella-based health board 'recovery director' is earning £1,990 a day, Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has condemned troubled Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for paying such “obscene” amounts to staff.
The health board claims the amount paid to Phillip Burns, who works one day a week from Spain - and is set to earn more than £350,000 for a nine-month stint, is the “market rate”. It has also emerged that another four high-ranking management consultants are earning between £715 and £1,380 per day.
Darren has questioned how a health board which is in special measures and failing to meet crucial targets can justify such an amount.
He said:
“This is an utter disgrace! Instead of forking out these obscene pay packets Betsi Cadwaladr should be spending this cash on improving patient care and addressing unacceptable waiting lists and emergency department performance.
"After more than four years in special measures Betsi ought to have the capacity within the organisation to deliver the improvements that patients need to see without having to bring in expensive management consultants from elsewhere. It begs the question as to the quality of leadership and management in the organisation.
“As a Health Board which is strapped for cash and in special measures, Welsh Ministers should accept some responsibility for this matter and step in to prevent more cash being frittered away in this way."