HOSPITAL bosses in the Ham&High area have been given a clean bill of health after agreeing to reveal their expenses claims. Following the MPs expenses scandal this year Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for similar claims to be made public in other secto

HOSPITAL bosses in the Ham&High area have been given a clean bill of health after agreeing to reveal their expenses claims.

Following the MPs expenses scandal this year Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for similar claims to be made public in other sectors including healthcare.

A Ham&High investigation has revealed that the Whittington Hospital's outgoing chief executive, David Sloman, claimed �3,914 in financial year 2005/06, with the figure rising gradually to �5,001, about �100 a week, for 2008/09.

Former chairman Narendra Makanji claimed about �500 for each year except for 2006/07 when he claimed �1,639, and new chairman Joe Liddane has claimed only �165 since taking on the job last year. Mr Liddane said: "I am totally in favour of expenses being made available. The Whittington is a public organisation which needs to be transparent and accountable to its community. There is not a culture of inappropriate or extravagant expenses at the Whittington. They are controlled with clear policies, procedures and signing-off processes."

Meanwhile, at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, outgoing chief executive Andrew Way claimed �3,184 in 2006/07, �3,418 in 2007/08 and �1,878 in 2008/09.

Former chairwoman Pam Chesters claimed �2,782 in 2008/09 but previously had claimed no more than �350.

University College London Hospital was unable to provide the expenses claims of its leaders but a spokeswoman promised they would be made available within a fortnight.

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