£170,000 NHS exec pay-off slammed

Kim Hodgson has spent five years as the chief executive of East Sussex Hospitals Trust '“ the body which runs the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards and Eastbourne District General Hospital.

However, she has decided to leave for pastures new and will stand down with almost immediate effect.

This is instead of serving an agreed 12-month notice period.

Yet despite it being her own decision to leave the post, she is set to benefit from the bumper one-off payment, equivalent to a whole year's wages.

The decision by the trust's board to sanction the spending has been roundly criticised, not least by the local MP.

Michael Foster is demanding the "cheque be stopped" and has vowed to take the matter up with his colleagues in the department of health. He said: "It's outrageous. What world is the trust living in? Every single person I have spoken to finds the decision incredible. I do not expect the trust to make this payment and if they have agreed this deal with legal advice then I would expect that we sue the solicitors.

"This sort of largess with public money has to stop."

And it was a sentiment echoed by Mr Foster's Lib Dem rival Nick Perry, who has long-campaigned for fairer parking charges at the Conquest '“ something he says would be a better way of spending this cash.

He said: "I think we have all had a gutful of seeing one rule for the little people and another one for the elite.

"This six-figure sum would enable a generous subsidy for the car parking at the Conquest."

Miss Hodgson was unavailable for comment, but a spokesman for the trust defended the pay-off.

Tom Gurney said: "Kim has loved working at the trust, but after nearly five years as chief executive, she has decided that it is time to hand over the trust to others to take forward.

"Having decided on this move it makes sense for the trust and for Kim to put the new arrangements into effect as quickly as we can. The trust is paying Kim her contractual entitlements and no more. She will get just under 175,000 and she will pay tax and the usual deductions on that. There is no additional payoff."

However, Mr Foster remained unconvinced, saying: "At a time when money is tight I cannot see how this can be justified.

"I think the trust has a lot to answer for '“ especially a trust which last week doubled car parking charges for their workers who earn one-tenth of the sum now being paid.

"This just beggars belief."