There are more than 650 senior NHS workers across Suffolk and north Essex earning more than £100,000 – including nearly 50 in non-medical roles.
That’s according to figures obtained by the TaxPayers’ Alliance through a Freedom of Information request, which come at a time when the health service is under more financial pressure than ever.
More than 100 earn more than £150,000, including six non-clinical roles.
The figures come as some health services locally are under fire for failing to meet government-set targets and standards.
Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “No one begrudges paying doctors and nurses well for the tough jobs that they do, but it’s galling to see bosses at failing hospitals continuing to rake in the cash.
“It’s an insult to taxpayers, but it’s even worse for the patients who have suffered.
“The rewards-for-failure culture is rife in the NHS and it must be stamped out as a matter of urgency.”
Last week, the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) was found not to be achieving the 75% benchmark of the most critical incidents which must be attended within eight-minutes.
However, the Trust’s interim director of finance and commercial service, was paid a salary of £247,500 in 2013/14 before leaving the job, with three other managers also paid upwards of £100,000.
An EEAST spokesman said: “Salaries are in line with similar very high level key roles in public bodies and other ambulance services.
“Pay reflects responsibility, accountability, expertise and experience which is essential to our priority to increase front-line staffing and ambulance cover to improve services to patients.”
The highest number of top earners locally was at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, which has faced a number of issues in recent years.
The trust runs Colchester General Hospital, rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission in September after being placed into special measures, and is facing a financial problems.
Despite this, around 170 staff took home more than £100,000 – three of those more than £200,000 – with eight of those non-medical roles.
A spokesman said: “We have approximately 185 consultant posts so the vast majority of our senior doctors receive remuneration under £150,000.
“Pay levels for staff are in line with those paid by other medium-size acute hospital trusts.”
At the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, eight non-medical employees are on salaries of at least £100,000, with one over £150,000, despite currently being in special measures.
Robert Nesbitt, company secretary, said: “The majority of those in the report are highly experienced clinical consultants and the earnings quoted include the total NHS remuneration they receive including pension contributions.
“As our staff cover Norfolk and Suffolk, our footprint may be larger than other trusts, while still putting us at the fourth lowest in Suffolk and Essex.
“We follow nationally-negotiated rates of pay for doctors and senior clinical staff.”
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