RE-LOCATION expenses of up to £20,000 are being offered by the local acute health trust to bring their new chief executive from Australia to Worcestershire.
Michelle McKay, whose salary is said to be more than £155,000 – more than the Prime Minister, is due to take up her new position in March.
The trust – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – is currently in special measures and, after recording a debt of £59million last year is expected to be £34.5million in the red this year.
The trust’s Worcestershire Royal Hospital last week hit the headlines following the deaths of two patients in A&E and the suicide of a third.
Mrs McKay is a recognised health expert with long experience in medical management.
A spokesperson for WAHT said: “We can confirm that following a rigorous and transparent recruitment process we offered the post of chief executive to Michelle McKay.
Michelle was appointed to bring strong leadership and she has huge experience of turning and managing complex health systems.
“Attracting world class applicants is something we are extremely proud of and the people of Worcestershire will welcome our move to install a permanent leadership team to the trust, something that has been lacking for a number of years.
“There is a financial cost to attracting candidates such as this and it is only right and proper that they are remunerated fairly and out of pocket relocation expenses are reimbursed.
“On the salary package we are not commenting other than to say it is in keeping with other NHS chief executive salaries and has been approved and signed off outside of the trust.”
