Fury as NHS chief hires a 'head of brand' on £97k while axing thousands of jobs - Mirror.co.uk

A health chief today sparked anger when he admitted the NHS had hired a "head of brand" on £97,000 a year while axing thousands of jobs.

NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson denied it was a frivolous waste of money and blamed the controversy on the "rather unfortunate" job title.

The row came hours after it emerged more than 30 NHS staff a day have been axed since the Tory-led ­coalition took power in May 2010.

Labour MP Barbara Keeley told Sir David the public would see red over the head of brand revelation as she grilled him at the Commons Health Select Committee.

Sir David insisted the Leeds-based job was to ensure private firms "understand what it means to be part of the NHS".

He told committee members: "It's really important for us and for patients to know that these organisations are signed up to these values and principles" when using the NHS logo.

Speaking after the meeting, Worsley MP Mrs Keeley said: "The NHS is a service not a brand."

And Unison's Christina McAnea added: "The simple way to stop the NHS brand being diluted by increased private sector involvement is to stop privatising it."