NHS Leaders Face Pay Cuts or £30k Bonuses

The UK Labour government has introduced a policy tying NHS leadership pay to performance, with hospital chief executives eligible for bonuses of up to £30,000 for meeting waiting list and budget targets, and facing pay cuts of up to £15,000 for underperformance. The scheme, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, includes 15% salary uplifts for executives who take on roles at the worst-performing trusts. The policy applies to all senior managers earning more than £110,000, including medical and nursing directors. Critics, including the Conservative opposition and the Royal College of Nursing, argue the bonuses—which could exceed a nurse's annual salary—are unfair amid ongoing pay disputes with frontline staff. Supporters claim the measures will drive improvements and transform NHS culture, while opponents warn of potential unintended consequences and question implementation. The reforms are part of the government's broader strategy to tackle long NHS waiting lists and systemic underperformance.