Staggering 325 nanny state public health bosses raked in over £100,000 a YEAR just to say drink less and exercise more
More than 100 were employed by councils, including Cornwall’s public health director, who was paid £207,302
A STAGGERING 325 nanny state public health chiefs raked in over £100,000 in pay and perks last year, a shock report says today.
More than half – 199 – worked for Public Health England – the same organisation which wants to slap minimum prices on booze, backs the sugar tax on fizzy drinks and tells people to eat less.
The meddling body handed seven of its top bosses more than £150,000, paid chief exec Duncan Selbie £200,000 and chief knowledge officer John Newton £167,000.
More than 100 were employed by local councils, led by Cornwall’s outgoing public health director with £207,302, including a £122,790 golden goodbye.
And Oxfordshire’s public health boss Jonathan McWilliam got a pay-and-pension deal worth £202,349 with a base salary of £180,000.
Regional NHS bodies had 16 leaders taking home more than £100,000, with seven raking in sums above £150,000.
They included the public health heads in Tayside, Ayrshire and Arran, Borders, Powys Teaching Local Health Board, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Fife and Lanarkshire.
Five fat cats at Public Health Wales got pay and bonuses over £100,000, led by Executive Director of Public Health Services Quentin Sandifer on £157,500.
It sparked calls for a cull of the “high priests of the nanny state” behind calls to stay out of the sun, drink less at Christmas and exercise more.
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Taxpayers’ Alliance chief executive Jonathan Isaby said: “The pernicious influence of the public health lobby has spread ever wider in recent years, with health quangocrats pushing for more regulations and higher taxes that hit families and businesses.
“Not only do the patronising diktats and demands of these unaccountable quangos raise household bills, but taxpayers are also paying for the enormous remuneration packages of hundreds of meddling busybodies, many of whom have obscure job titles.”
Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, added: “As bad as it is to be bullied and harassed by these joyless puritans, it is worse when you see how many of them are getting filthy rich from it.
“It is bewildering that this gravy train keeps rolling at a time of supposed austerity. Most of these jobs could be axed without having any effect on people’s health whatsoever.”
But Public Health England boss Mr Selbie defended his colleagues, saying: “Public health professionals are on the frontline of protecting and improving the nation’s health – from fighting diseases such as Ebola to tackling preventable disease which costs the NHS over £11 billion each year, including diabetes and obesity.
“The overwhelming majority of our staff, including our most senior team, are doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers.”