A DEBT-RIDDEN health body has justified paying its new chairman nearly £130,000.
The newly-created Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust, which is trying to recoup losses of up to £42m, will pay businessman John Church £32,500 a year for his services over the next four years.
He was chosen by the NHS Appointments Commission to run the trust, created by a merger of Ellesmere Port & Neston and Chester PCTs, which comes into being on October 1.
Mr Church, who is 61 and lives in Burton, is chairman of Group Tyre (UK) Ltd.
Based on Cheshire Innovation Park in Ellesmere Port, the firm has a turnover of nearly £200m. Mr Church also runs a management consultancy.
But his part-time appointment has proved unpopular with one member of the local health service.
The unnamed person told the Pioneer: 'The NHS is in turmoil and the new PCT has appointed the chairman of Group Tyre (UK) Ltd for a four-year term earning £130,000.
'You have to ask what is his knowledge of the NHS? To me, this appointment beggars belief.
'OK, his company has a high turnover. But will he really be able to solve the PCT's budget problem? Watch this space.'
Ian Rhodes, spokesman for the North West Strategic Health Authority which oversaw the appointment, said: 'It's quite common for chairmen and chief executives to come into the NHS from outside, bringing with them their different skills and experience.
'Someone who is a businessman like Mr Church can bring in a lot, certainly in addressing financial issues. There is remuneration for this, with a rate that varies according to the size and other factors in the job.
'We find chairmen are there to put something back into the public sector and although this is a part-time position, they put in a great deal of extra time and effort into their jobs.'
