Hospital to pay £13k for three days a month

The vacancy, advertised in last week’s Derbyshire Times, calls for a non-executive director to provide ‘significant senior leadership expertise’.

Retired Dennis Smith, from Brimington, said: “I thought it was a printing error. However it appears not.

“The successful candidate will set the trust’s strategic aims, provide entrepreneurial leadership and set the trust’s values and standards. All this in three days per month.

“The idea that the trust, which employs over 3500 people, with an income of over £200m, believes it needs the services of this “Super Person” for 36 days a year, beggars belief.”

He called on the trust to reassess the idea and instead put money to improving patient care and visitor car parking.

Sarah Turner-Saint, head of communications at Chesterfield Royal said NHS Foundation Trusts are legally required to appoint non-executive directors.

She added: “This appointment will replace a director who is due to retire. A non-executive’s role is to offer an independent voice, scrutinise standards of care and financial management and constructively challenge decisions and plans. They also seek assurance that the hospital has the right systems in place to keep patients safe and be well governed.

“We are now looking for someone with a clinical background to help us to impove the clinical services we provide for our patients.”