THE number of hospital managers in Southampton has risen by 85 per cent in just four years, according to latest figures.

In 2004 the number of hospital trust managers was 123 but four years later that figure had jumped to 227 –an increase of 85 per cent.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Sandra Gidley obtained the figures for Southampton General and Princess Anne Hospitals from the Department of Health Non Medical Workforce census.

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She has estimated that the rise in hospital managers – which includes 79 senior managers and 148 other managers – has cost the taxpayer a minimum of £2.4m based on management wages.

The Lib Dem health spokeswoman said: “Questions need to be answered as to why Southampton needs so many administrative managers – particularly as the hospital managed perfectly well without them.

“Unfortunately, Labour’s micro-management of the NHS and imposition of centrally driven targets by Whitehall mandarins has meant that more and more money has been spent on managers rather than on front line services.

“At a time when public services will be looking to tighten their belts, this money would surely be better spent on doctors, nurses, midwives or new technologies – anything that will really help patients – not on managers who ensure that Government targets are being met.”

Mark Hackett, the chief executive of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust has defended management numbers.

He said: “Sandra Gidley has shown our management costs have risen substantially since 2004.

“However, the trust has changed over that period and it is not true to say it managed perfectly well before this.

“In 2004, waiting times for treatment were over two years, patients waited over 24 months for an outpatient appointment, patients waited over a year for Xray investigation, we had unacceptable levels of hospital infection, only seven out of ten patients rated our care as good or excellent and the hospital was spending an incredible £1m per month more than it was resourced for.

“Management working with clinicians have transformed this so we now have a very good performing trust and patients tell us this.”

Mr Hackett said people now experience shorter waiting times, infection rates are among the best nationwide, patient satisfaction levels have improved and the hospital has made an annual profit since 2006 which it has invested into new facilities, technology and staff.