Hartlepool Borough Council's Labour group hit out after North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust chairman Russell Hart had his pay increased from £20,000 to £50,000 a year.

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Bosses at the trust, which runs hospitals in Hartlepool and Stockton, claim former council Labour leader Mr Hart was given the pay award due to his increased responsibilities since the organisation gained foundation status.

The Mail reported the Labour Group at Stockton Borough Council has already urged Government health minister Alan Johnson to demand why the pay rise has been given at a time when workers in other sectors were accepting smaller awards.

Now Coun Jonathan Brash, leader of the Labour group in Hartlepool, has written to the hospital trust to express the group's "profound anger and disgust" at the decision.

Coun Brash said: "At a time when those on the front line of the NHS, who are the backbone of the service, are receiving just a two per cent increase, it seems wholly unwarranted and thoroughly ill-judged to allow such a massive increase to go ahead.

"The Labour group believes very strongly that decisions such as this bring the trust into serious disrepute and have a devastating affect on staff morale."

The decision was made by the trust's Council of Governors and was based on guidance from the Foundation Trust Network – an organisation set up to support NHS Foundation Trusts.

Hospital trust chief executive Alan Foster said Mr Hart's role since the organisation became a foundation trust has become more onerous and he now has increased responsibilities.

Mr Foster added: "Councils and political groups are perfectly free to comment about the situation.

"However, the issue of comparing the rise in remuneration for what is a fundamental change in the role and responsibilities of the chairman to the cost of living pay rise for NHS front line staff is not comparing like with like.

"If any member of our staff had a substantial change in their responsibilities we would evaluate the post and adjust the pay rate appropriately, as has happened in this case."
Labour