A SENIOR Government minister has told the Commons shamed hospital boss Clive Uren will receive the "lowest

possible" pay-off.

There was uproar when it emerged chief executive Mr Uren, who stepped down following a damning report into levels of care at Eastbourne District General Hospital, would receive a £76,000 severance payment.

Mr Uren, who earned £90,000 a year, and chairman of Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust John Barkshire resigned over the no-holds-barred NHS Executive probe into nursing care at the

hospital.

The report, which severely criticised the way the hospital had been managed, came after two high-profile deaths on understaffed wards.

But when details of Mr Uren's pay-off were revealed, MP for Lewes Norman Baker, called on health minister Gisela Stuart to assure the House

the payment would be of minimum cost to the taxpayer.

She told MPs: "The sum negotiated by the trust represented the lowest possible cost to the NHS within the terms of Mr Uren's contract.

"The leaving arrangements for Mr Uren, including his termination payment, were given independent approval by the District Auditor, whose role it is to ensure absolute propriety in such matters."

Mr Uren has been given a new job for six months within the NHS. He will not be working at the hospital or in a chief executive role.

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