Leaders at Northern Ireland's health trusts have secured annual income rises approaching £100,000 while the Department of Health has instructed them to reduce service levels by four percent each year.
Data from this year's annual reports for the five trusts indicate that several chief executives received total remuneration increases in the six-figure range compared to the previous financial period.
The Belfast Trust appointed a new chief executive in October last year, with their basic salary recorded between £215,000 and £220,000 in its latest published report.
Pay structures for senior trust bosses were only authorised by a minister in 2025, meaning awards covering the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years were considered overdue.
The chief executives of both the South Eastern Trust and the Western Trust remained in post throughout the relevant full years and recorded significant income boosts.
Roisin Coulter, chief executive of the South Eastern Trust, saw her total remuneration increase to a top bracket of £270,000 in 2025/26, rising from a maximum of £170,000 in the prior year.
Neil Guckian retired as chief executive of the Western Trust in April 2026, yet figures for the 2025/26 period show his total remuneration reached between £265,000 and £270,000, up from £180,000 to £185,000 in 2024/25.
His income rise included a base salary increase of £35,000 within that year.
The Southern Trust and the Northern Trust currently employ interim chief executives, with annual reports noting Steve Spoerry earned up to £235,000 and Suzanne Pullins earned up to £275,000 in the last year respectively.
A reset and recovery plan announced by the department aims to place the health service on a sounder financial footing but requires saving 12% of the current HSC budget.
A member of Stormont Health Committee stated it is difficult to understand how some senior salaries can jump by the sums stated.