NHS trusts in England spent more than £300m on external consultancy services last year, figures show.
The money was used to pay for advice on a range of issues, from legal contracts to human resources and media work.
The NHS Confederation, which represents trusts, says taxpayers’ money should not be wasted but that outside help was often needed to deliver reform.
Overall, primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) spent £313.9m on consultancy services in the financial year 2009/2010.
London areas spent nearly three times more per head on consultancy services than any other part of the country.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he was “staggered by the scale of the expenditure”, adding that he had asked PCTs and SHAs to reduce their management costs by 46% over the next four years.
Read more at BBC Health.
Tags: Management consultants
