HEALTH chiefs have been condemned by a top nursing body after it emerged they had spent £28m of taxpayers’ money on management consultants.

The news, revealed by the Daily Echo, was described as “deeply concerning.”

It also comes at a time when hospitals in the region plan to slash frontline services and cut budgets.

Patricia Marquis, Royal College of Nurses south east boss, said: “It is deeply concerning to hear such large sums of money have been spent on management consultants.

“We are aware of the fact that there are serious financial problems at a number of trusts in Hampshire.

“Before these trusts look at cutting frontline services, training budgets or new facilities, they must look very carefully at the money spent on external advice and what value is added to the patient experience.”

Health bosses have defended the outgoing claiming consultants can be cheaper than using in-house experts and they have helped identify savings, cut waiting times and provided management training.

The South Central Strategic Health Authority, which oversees primary care trusts, providing services such as doctors, opticians and dentists, paid out more than £13m over four years. However, managers claimed they have improved care across the region, cut waiting times and reduced visits made to GPs and hospitals.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust, in charge of managing and funding services including hospitals and doctors surgeries, spent almost £9.9m on consultants, who set up a new digital imaging service, a care plan and a countywide sexual health review.

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the £3.4m it spent went on legal, finance and property expert fees and advice to improve efficiency.

Earlier this year the Daily Echo revealed that as many as 1,400 jobs were under threat at Southampton General Hospital, the Princess Anne and Countess Mountbatten House Hospice, as part of a £100m cost-cutting plan.

These figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Lib Dem campaigner Martin Tod.

He said it was a crazy world where NHS bosses pay expensive consultants to tell them what to do.