CASH-strapped health bosses overpaid five consultants by a total of £290,000, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The senior medics were given money to which they were not entitled because of human error in the payroll department at the Royal Hampshire County Hospial in Winchester.

The mistake lasted for several years and was only spotted in the spring by outside auditors.

Now Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is attempting to claw back the overpayment from the five medics, who average six-figure salaries. None has been named nor the amount which was overpaid to each.

Health unions reacted reacted angrily. Jobs are under threat as its financial crisis persists. Latest estimates show that it could be £4m-5m short at the end of the financial year. The trust has a £13m savings plan in place.

Doug Smith, joint spokesman for all the unions represented at the hospital, said: "We are very concerned at this. The trust is talking about redundancies because of a shortage of money. We will support the trust's attempts to claw all this money back."

A trust spokesman said: "The overpayments occurred due to human error in the administration of discretionary and distinction payments. The trust is certain beyond doubt that no other staff have been overpaid in this way."

Managers are now trying to reclaim the money from the consultants, who are being represented by the British Medical Association. Negotiations with each consultant are ongoing.

A British Medical Assocation spokesman confirmed that it was acting for the doctors, adding: "We are in discussion with the trust, trying to see a way forward."

The issue will be discussed at the monthly board meeting of the trust at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital tomorrow.

A report to be discussed by the board said the consultants had initially been prepared to only repay half of the overpayment with unpaid sessions on top.

Trust chief executive Rod Halls proposed an 85 per cent repayment in cash with the unpaid sessions on top. An added proviso was the immediate repayment of all cash should the consultant leave the trust.

A trust spokesman said: "We just want the money back. We regret what has happened and are continuing to do everything we can to get the whole repayment."

An independent review has made recommendations to ensure the mistake is not repeated.

Discretionary and distinction payments are made to recognise the skills, length of service and seniority of the doctors.