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Published Date: 27 November 2010
HEALTH boards in Scotland, including NHS Lothian, are paying hundreds of staff more than £100,000 a year, with many workers earning more than First Minister Alex Salmond.
In Lothian 455 staff earn more than £100,000 and 138 more than Mr Salmond's £140,000 but the country's biggest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has almost double that number, with 893.
The figures were released under Freedom of Information legislation to the Labour Party.
The party's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said pay levels across the country's 22 boards were "astonishing" and that it was impossible to justify such big salaries when 4000 job losses are planned.
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Over 800  staff in Scotland are earning more than 140,000 each year—more than First Minister Alex Salmond. New figures also reveal that 3,000 NHS workers are earning over £100,000. One NHS board alone, , employs 893 staff earning more than £100,000, and 181 being paid over £140,000. 

, health spokeswoman for the Labour Party, which uncovered the figures, said they were "astonishing", and urged health boards to examine if savings can be made by reducing salaries of top earners. "This is a far better option than cutting frontline staff like nurses and midwives. In tough financial times we need to make sure that our focus is on patient care and every penny is spent in the most efficient way." She further said: “In the current economic climate, it is impossible to justify huge salaries for consultants and senior executives when health boards are planning 4000 job losses this year, including 1500  and ."

Britain's largest health service industrial union, , questioned the amount of money the NHS was paying. A spokesperson said: "Unison doesn’t begrudge anybody the rate of pay for the job but obviously our membership will be concerned that while they are to face a pay freeze and people delivering frontline services are losing their jobs, there is a cohort of folk who appear to earn more than the most senior politician in the land."