LOCAL watchdogs say health bosses are risking patient care by spending too much money on management.

But Bury and Rochdale Health Authority claims every penny of its £3.7 million management bill is needed to distribute its huge budget.

The chief officer of Bury Community Health Council, (CHC) Mr Paul Reynolds said: "It's scandalous. These high management costs are diverting precious resources away from frontline NHS needs. We have looked at it very clearly and believe these costs are not necessary."

The health authority spends £9.94 on management for every member of Bury and Rochdale's population, where as in a comparable area such as Wigan and Bolton, the cost is £8.76.

Mr Reynolds added: "The figures are far too high and spending like this should not be allowed to go on. Management costs, which are more than £1 billion nationally, are a disgrace. After the election we will be pushing very hard for a complete overhall of the system."

But local health bosses believe the costs are entirely justified in taking care of its £221 million budget.

Hilda Harvey, a member of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said: "If we look at the amount of money we deal with it is obvious that somebody has to manage where this goes. There have to be chiefs to manage the indians otherwise the indians will be running around out of control."

At the March health authority meeting, Anna Inceman, chairman of the CHC, demanded a detailed breakdown of management costs which health bosses have promised to provide.

She said: "We are very unhappy with such high costs and it would be very useful to see a breakdown of where the money has gone."

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