The pay of NHS bosses in England rose by more than three times that of nurses last year.

Figures from pay research company Income Data Services revealed that directors of NHS Foundations in England saw their pay rise by 6.4%, compared with the 1.9% awarded to nurses.

Craig Tibbles, chief executive of healthcare recruiter Orion, told Recruiter that the disparity needed to end if the current shortage of nurses was to be reversed.

“As you know there’s a desperate shortage of nurses which is set to continue despite the government’s best efforts to recruit nurses. 

“If the disparity between the remuneration of nurses and NHS bosses continues, it’s not going to do anything to improve the situation over the coming years. Nurses’ pay increases should be on a par with doctors, a minimum of 5%.”