HOSPITAL bosses have today defended the salary paid to interim chief executive Nigel Beverley – a figure of more than �700-a-day.

The fee – which would equate to a salary of around �192,297 if paid for an average working year – represents a hike from the pay of outgoing chief Andrew Reed.

He left the trust earning between �140–145,000 or around �170–175,000 including pension contributions.

Mr Beverley has charged the hospital �41,418 since he started on May 21, The Star can reveal.

Based on 56 days working at the Heath Road trust – Mr Beverley is contracted to work four days a week – it means the former Hinchingbrooke Hospital chief executive is earning around �739 a day.

That is a drop from the reported �1,100 a day he was said to be earning when he worked at the struggling Huntingdon hospital.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said the expenditure would be justified if Mr Beverley continues to make improvements at the trust.

Another recent addition to the hospital’s board is Margaret Blackett, the new director of transformation and a former colleague of Mr Beverley’s from Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The Star has learnt her remuneration is being paid from a specific fund allocated to help the organisations through a period of change.

Her monthly salary with costs is around �14,000 – similar to that of an average NHS director.

Ann Tate, chair of The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We appointed Nigel because of the very specific skills, expertise and experience he has in leading organisations through a period of great change.

“The same is true of Margaret Blackett, who we have appointed as our interim director of transformation.

“The reason why they are here is to secure the future of the hospital. We’re now on target to break even financially this year and have just re-launched our Foundation Trust application.

“Both Nigel and Margaret have distinguished careers and strong track records of delivering first class services, and their remuneration reflects this.”

While Mr Beverley is contracted to lead the trust until next March, Mrs Blackett has a sixth-month contract which started last month.

Their salaries were both sanctioned by the hospital’s board of directors.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said he believes the salary will be justified if the hospital chief executive continues to make improvements.

He said while the high salary came at a time of “economic difficulty”, he believed Nigel Beverley had made a good start at the Heath Road hospital.

“He will be judged on his results and he his made a good start so far,” he said.

“So if he can balance the hospital’s finances and continue improving specialist services in the trust then I’m sure that most people in Ipswich will feel that he has done a good job. But anyone on such a significant amount of money must continue coming up with the goods.”

Suffolk Coastal MP, Therese Coffey, added: “I think it’s fair to say it’s a lot of money but he has been brought in at short notice and he has a good record of delivering.

“It’s a lot of money but as long as we get value for it then hopefully patients will think it’s good value for money.”