Health

Welsh NHS executive pay revealed as patients face lengthy waits

Published

1 day ago

July 26, 2026

North Wales health board chief was Wales’ highest-paid NHS manager, while 39 Hywel Dda clinicians earned more than its highest-paid director

THE CHIEF executive of Wales’ largest health board received a salary of more than £260,000 last year, according to new research examining senior NHS pay alongside waiting-time performance.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance says 574 senior NHS managers covered by its latest “NHS Rich List” received salaries greater than the Prime Minister’s £172,153 entitlement during 2024-25.

Across the organisations examined, the campaign group identified 1,758 senior managers receiving at least £100,000 in total remuneration, including 292 whose reported remuneration reached £300,000 or more.

However, the headline totals require careful interpretation. In NHS annual accounts, “total remuneration” can include accounting calculations showing changes in future pension benefits. These figures do not necessarily represent money paid to an executive during that financial year.

North Wales chief had highest Welsh salary

Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, was identified as the highest-salaried senior NHS manager in Wales.

The health board’s accounts place her salary in the £260,000 to £265,000 band for 2024-25. The TaxPayers’ Alliance recorded the midpoint as £262,500.

Her accounts also show a total remuneration figure of between £440,000 and £445,000. This included a £180,000 pension benefit calculation, rather than £180,000 being paid directly to her during the year.

The research ranked Betsi Cadwaladr sixth out of Wales’ seven health boards for referral-to-treatment performance and last for accident and emergency waiting times.

Betsi Cadwaladr’s own annual report shows that 57.2% of patients attending its major and minor emergency departments during March 2025 completed their visit within four hours, placing the health board seventh out of seven in Wales.

It also recorded 3,763 patients spending 12 hours or longer in emergency departments during that month, again placing it last among the Welsh health boards.

The health board remains in special measures after being placed under the highest level of Welsh Government intervention in February 2023.

Cardiff executive’s reported total included pension calculation

The TaxPayers’ Alliance also highlighted Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which it ranked last in Wales for referral-to-treatment waiting times and fifth for A&E performance.

Its report stated that Emma Cooke, executive director of therapies and health science, had total remuneration of £367,500 during 2024-25.

Official accounts show that Ms Cooke’s actual salary during the year was in the £130,000 to £135,000 band. Her full-year equivalent salary was between £140,000 and £145,000.

The total remuneration figure of between £365,000 and £370,000 included £236,000 attributed to pension benefits and £10,000 in benefits in kind. No bonus payment was recorded.

Cardiff and Vale states clearly in its accounts that the pension benefit “is not an amount which has been paid to an individual by the UHB during the year”. It is an accounting calculation that can be affected by salary changes, additional contributions and wider pension valuation factors.

Thirty-nine Hywel Dda staff earned more than chief executive

The accounts also reveal a significant West Wales dimension to the debate.

At Hywel Dda University Health Board, which provides services across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, the highest-paid director received remuneration in the £225,000 to £230,000 band during 2024-25.

That was just over seven times the organisation’s median employee remuneration of £32,002.

However, 39 Hywel Dda employees received more than its highest-paid director, an increase from 35 the previous year.

The health board said all 39 were medical or dental staff who had accepted responsibilities beyond their standard job plans, including additional clinical duties and, in some cases, medical management roles.

Remuneration across the Hywel Dda workforce ranged from £23,970 to £353,573 during the year.

Unlike some of the larger figures recorded elsewhere, Hywel Dda’s fair-pay calculation excludes employer pension contributions and the cash-equivalent transfer value of pensions. It includes salary, benefits in kind and any non-consolidated performance-related pay.

The accounts show that the remuneration of Hywel Dda’s highest-paid director increased by 2%, while average remuneration across the organisation’s employees increased by 11%.

Campaigners call for performance-linked pay

Across the NHS organisations examined, the TaxPayers’ Alliance said 1,603 senior managers had salary entitlements of at least £100,000.

This included 1,267 receiving between £100,000 and £200,000, 319 receiving between £200,000 and £300,000 and 17 whose salaries exceeded £300,000.

The number receiving salaries above that of the Prime Minister reportedly rose from 512 in 2023-24 to 574 in 2024-25, an increase of 12%.

Anne Strickland, a researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be appalled that NHS executive pay is soaring while patients are still left waiting for care.

“Ministers must keep their promise to link performance to pay, so that failing NHS bosses are held accountable and money goes into patients’ care, not managers’ pockets.”

Senior NHS leaders oversee organisations employing thousands of staff and controlling budgets worth billions of pounds. Health boards are also responsible for complex hospital, community, mental health and primary-care services.

Nevertheless, the publication of the figures is likely to intensify scrutiny of executive pay at a time when patients across Wales continue to experience lengthy waits for emergency treatment, operations and specialist appointments.

Business

Former Tenby coffee shop conversion to healthcare clinic approved

Published

39 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to convert a vacant former coffee shop next to a Pembrokeshire seaside town’s Sainsbury’s supermarket to healthcare clinic have been approved.

In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Tenby Health Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of the former The Grind coffee shop, Supermarket Complex, Unit 3, Upper Park Road, Tenby to a private musculoskeletal healthcare clinic.

Tenby Town council recommended approval, saying: “Whilst councillors are disappointed in loss of retail, retail businesses have failed in the past. It will be good to have the space utilised and diversification may last longer,” adding it did not want empty units in the town.

Tenby Civic Society said: “Members of the executive committee felt these units have had a chequered history in retail use, and note that much needed renovation and re-marketing of the units has produced some new users whose lower footfall seems appropriate, though the issue of loss of retail use is disappointing.”

It did raise concern about the potential use of privacy film to the windows and prominent signage, which could affect the appearance of the courtyard, requesting that details of any such treatments be secured.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said: “The applicant is Tenby Health Ltd, a private musculoskeletal (MSK) healthcare clinic incorporated in Wales and operated by directors Hannah and Ben Horne. Ben is the sole practising clinician. The clinic provides the following services: chiropractic care, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging, shockwave therapy, rehabilitation, and exercise-based programmes.

“Tenby Health serves both the resident population of Tenby and the surrounding area, as well as visitors to the national park.”

It added: “The clinic will operate on an appointment-only basis during regular working hours. Patient numbers at any one time will be limited to those attending individual appointments.

“The low-intensity, appointment-based nature of the clinic means there will be no material increase in noise, disturbance, or activity at the site compared to the previous use. Opening hours will be limited to typical daytime business hours.”

An officer report, recommending approval, said the concerns raised by Tenby Civic Society were acknowledged, but the current application sought permission solely for the change of use of the premises and associated internal alteration, with no changes mentioned by the society forming part of the application.

Of the scheme itself, it said: “The site forms part of an established commercial complex adjacent to Sainsbury’s supermarket and Tenby’s multi-storey public car park, where commercial activity is an established characteristic of the area.

“Given the nature of the proposed use, together with its location within an existing commercial environment, the development is not considered likely to give rise to unacceptable impacts in respect of noise, disturbance, overlooking, loss of privacy, odour or visual intrusion.”

The application was conditionally approved.

Health

More than 3,000 people have their say as Hywel Dda stroke consultation closes

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Final decision on proposals, including a central 24-hour stroke unit at Glangwili and treat-and-transfer services at Withybush, is expected in November

MORE than 3,000 people have taken part in discussions over the future of stroke services across west Wales as an eight-week public consultation by Hywel Dda University Health Board comes to an end.

The consultation, which closed on Sunday, July 26, examined proposals that could see specialist acute stroke care concentrated at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

Under the health board’s preferred option, Glangwili would host a 24-hour acute stroke and rehabilitation unit, while Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth would retain a stroke rehabilitation unit.

Bronglais, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest would provide “treat and transfer” services, with patients assessed and stabilised before being moved elsewhere for specialist care where necessary.

The proposals have prompted concerns about travel distances, ambulance capacity and access to urgent treatment, particularly for patients living in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Hywel Dda said it had received more than 700 questionnaire responses, while more than 3,000 people had taken part in 120 engagement events, meetings and activities.

The health board stressed that no final decision had yet been made.

Medical Director Mark Henwood said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete a questionnaire, attend an event or share their views with us during this consultation.

“The response we have received reflects how important stroke services are to people across our communities and neighbouring health board areas.

“We know there has been considerable discussion about the proposals, and we appreciate the thoughtful and constructive way people have engaged with the consultation.

“We would like to reassure people that no decisions have been made.”

Stroke services are currently provided at all four of Hywel Dda’s main hospitals, including Withybush, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Bronglais.

However, the health board says the current system does not consistently meet national clinical standards and does not provide round-the-clock specialist stroke cover.

It argues that patients are more likely to achieve better outcomes when treated in specialist units with access to expert teams and equipment 24 hours a day.

Mr Henwood said patients should continue to call 999 immediately if they suspect someone is having a stroke.

He added: “Now, and in the future, patients will continue to be taken to the nearest appropriate hospital for urgent assessment and treatment.

“If specialist treatment such as a thrombectomy is needed, patients will continue to be transferred to specialist centres in Bristol or Cardiff.”

The health board said concerns raised about travel and patient transfers would be considered alongside input from the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and other national providers.

Mr Henwood said any future transport arrangements would be “carefully planned and modelled” to meet patients’ needs while protecting emergency ambulance capacity.

All feedback will now be reviewed alongside responses from the first phase of consultation in 2025, clinical evidence, data and updated impact assessments.

A full consultation report is expected to be presented to the Hywel Dda board in November, when a final decision on the future of stroke services is due to be made.

Any changes are likely to be introduced in phases.

The health board said patients would continue to access stroke services in the same way as they do currently until a decision is made and any new arrangements are implemented.

Health

More than 3,000 people have their say as Hywel Dda stroke consultation closes

Published

3 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair