Taxpayers paying for NHS benefits

front-line staff were already having lease cars taken away due to cuts in spending. Packages for directors should be re-examined as further cutbacks were imposed.

“Some trusts use these devices as additional packages to attract the ‘top talent’ but when public services are under such constraints these amounts running into hundreds of thousands of pounds can be better spent on front-line services,” he said.

“We have got to have regard to the general state of public finances. We cannot have a manager allowed to keep a lease car at a cost of thousands and at the same time see a low-paid healthcare assistant being laid-off.”

NHS chiefs defended the payments, claiming they were vital to attract the highest calibre managers.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said it was a “high performing trust and to achieve this needs high performing leadership and management”.

“Like any other business in the region we aim to attract and retain the best staff, from both the private and public sectors,” said a spokeswoman.

A Yorkshire Ambulance spokeswoman said the vehicles were “essential” for its executive team.

“To run our services effectively and ensure we continue to provide high quality care for our patients, they are often required to travel extensively throughout the region to meet staff, who operate from over 100 different locations, and numerous partner organisations,” she said.

A NHS Rotherham spokeswoman said: “All directors are eligible to receive either a lease car allowance or to receive an allowance of 4,721 as part of their salary.”

Some directors chose not to claim mileage for short journeys, which was reflected in the low claims.

NHS Bradford and Airedale said its lease car scheme “helped to attract and retain high-quality executive directors within our organisation”.

Rail travel costs could also include “necessary travel costs of other members of staff within a director’s immediate team”. Where no business mileage had been claimed, it did not mean no journeys had been made, only that no claims were submitted.

A regional health authority spokesman said its staff had to attend meetings across Yorkshire.

“Allocation of lease cars is agreed on the basis of value for money tests and is in line with national policy agreements.”

Comment: Page 16.