RELOCATION 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 with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in March.
WAHT 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, pictured, is a recognised health expert with long experience in medical management.
A spokesperson for WAHT said: “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.”
