CAMPAIGNERS have slammed news that two council senior public health executives are earning more than £130,000 a year.

A study published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance has revealed Dr Michael Gogarty, Essex County Council’s director of commissioning healthy lifestyles, takes home £190,739 per year – the third highest for local authorities in the country.

Dr Gogarty has been a doctor for 33 years, in senior public health roles in the NHS in Essex for 23 years and at Essex County Council since 2013

It also revealed that Southend’s equivalent, Dr Andrea Atherton, is earning £132,627.

Dr Atherton has been a doctor for 30 years and has held a director of Public Health role covering Southend for 14 years. Dr Atherton transferred to the council in 2013.

David Murray, who heads up Basildon Against the Cuts campaign, has questioned the salary afforded to the pair amid a “struggling” health service.

He said: “What is most concerning is that money is being taken away from medicine and practices, and is ending up in the hands of commercial management and so-called trouble-shooters.

“This highlights the fundamental problem and the need to return to public service. it needs wholesale change, moving away from privatisation of the health service.

“Health should be a priority and should not see these large salaries for people whose roles are not made clear.”

In the report, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, criticised taxpayers having to fund “enormous remuneration packages” of healthcare professionals amid increasing taxes.

David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, praised Dr Gogarty and insists his payscale is inline with NHS pay scales.

He said: “Dr Gogarty is paid at a rate completely determined by NHS medical consultant pay scales that reflect his length and quality of service in the NHS prior to transfer to ECC and would be paid exactly the same as any other doctor with this background.

“He is one of the most senior public health professionals in the region, working for one of the biggest councils in the country.

Mr Finch added that Dr Gogarty issues guidance to five NHS CCGs across Essex covering 1.4 million residents,

Rob Tinlin, Southend chief executive and town clerk, praised Dr Atherton’s record.

He said: “The director for public health is responsible for protecting and improving the health of all residents in the borough.

“This includes preventing health conditions that arise from smoking, drinking, obesity, unsafe sex and a lack of physical exercise, costing the NHS millions of pounds every year to treat and inflate demand on care services.”

“Thanks to the work of the public health team since they transferred to the Council in 2013, nearly 4,000 people in the borough have successfully quit smoking. The number of new HIV diagnoses – as well as the prevalence of HIV – in the borough are both showing positive signs of decline.”

“Nearly 130 local businesses are now involved in initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff.”