The head of the biggest hospital trust in Sussex earns more than the Prime Minister.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust has an annual salary of between £180,000 and £185,000.

This is higher than David Cameron's £142,500 and more than eight times as much as one of the trust's nurses.

It is also higher than the £172,000 earned by Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive John Barradell.

Mr Selbie is one of more than 170 top earners whose salary details have been published in a public sector civil servants rich list.

He has been working in Brighton on secondment from the Department of Health for the last three years and recently announced he was staying in post until at least 2012.

Details of Mr Selbie's earnings has sparked anger from unions, who have criticised “fat-cat” salaries earned by hospital managers.

The news comes at a time when the NHS is facing a tough financial future with Brighton and Sussex planning to make £40 million worth of savings over the next two years.

The trust runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Sussex Eye Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton.

It also runs the Princess Royal Hospital and Hurstwood Park neurosciences centre in Haywards Heath.

Mr Selbie did not comment about his earnings, saying it was a private matter.

A trust spokeswoman said: “The salary information published is correct and was disclosed by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.

"We have always been open about Duncan Selbie's salary and publish it every year."

Mark Turner, Brighton branch secretary of the GMB, said: “That is far too much to be paying out. It is an extortionate amount.

“It sends out a really bad message to staff, especially those who have already been told they are getting a pay freeze.

“There really needs to be a closer look at that.”

Earlier this year it emerged that former East Sussex Hospitals chief executive Kim Hodgson was given a £175,000 golden goodbye when she stepped down from her £155,000 a year position.