HOSPITAL executives have received a one-off discretionary payment based on their performance throughout the Covid pandemic, it has been revealed.

Executive directors from East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester Hospital, were given bonuses in recognition of their work over the past 18 months, an Freedom of Information request disclosed.

A spokesman for the trust has confirmed the directors received a bonus figure is between £0 and £5,000.

A statement from the Freedom of Information request said: "The trust’s remuneration committee is led by our Trust Chair Helen Taylor and is made up entirely of non-executive directors (NEDs).

"NEDs are appointed to the role by the trust’s council of governors."

This Committee meets once a year to review executive directors pay, which includes annual pay and annual one off payments aligned to delivery of the trust’s objectives, like all other trusts.

It added: "Our remuneration committee, like many other NHS Trust Remuneration Committees, made the decision this year to award a one-off discretionary payment to the executive directors.

"This decision was based on the overall performance of the Trust in 2020/21.

"The executive directors had no part in the committee’s decision and were unaware of it until the payment was made."

It said all of the directors have decided to make a substantial donation of this one-off payment to charities including the trust's staff wellbeing charitable fund to directly support staff.

On Wednesday, the Government announced NHS workers will receive a 3 per cent pay rise in recognition for their efforts during the pandemic.

However, campaigning NHS workers have been calling for a 15 per cent pay rise.

A petition was signed by more than 800,000 people for this rise and sent to Downing Street on Tuesday by Colchester nurse Holly Turner alongside dozens of other health staff.