One of Scotland’s top public sector earners today calls on all doctors – including herself – to take a pay cut and help create a fairer society, claiming society would benefit if the medical profession was paid less.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, a director for Greater Glasgow and Clyde told The Herald that doctors should consider a reduction in salary and stop demanding significant pay increases every year.  The move comes as Finance Secretary John Swinney considers calls for a 5% across-the-board pay cut for senior public-sector staff to address the squeeze on Government finances.

Dr de Caestecker believes that pay inequality needs to change to address some of Scotland’s entrenched health problems.  There is evidence that in more equal societies everyone fared better, and that doctors should take some leadership on this issue.

The suggestion may not prove to be a popular one, but does have its merit.  At a time when record financial savings need to be found across the public sector, it could be a case of “every little helps”.  Healthcare providers are faced with the challenge of doing more with less, of making resources go ever further, and providing care that is both effective and cost-effective.

Robust financial management is central to achieving this.  Trusts need to have a clear and accurate understanding of where costs are incurred, if they are to be able to improve and enhance service delivery.  Solutions such as Ardentia’s patient level costing give trusts this granularity of detail, giving them the ability to optimise financial management and clinical performance.