The Health Secretary promised a crackdown if the Conservatives are re-elected . Ending the ‘ abuse ’ of NHS money exposed by the Mail will be a priority if the Conservatives are re-elected , the Health Secretary said last night . Speaking as the Mail revealed how NHS managers were potentially dodging income tax by channelling huge salaries through personal companies , Jeremy Hunt promised an immediate crackdown if his party is in power after the election . He said : ‘ The Mail ’ s campaign has exposed that off-payroll contracts are clearly being abused both at a management level and in the hiring of agency staff . So we will stop the abuse as a priority if we form the next government. ’ His comments led a storm of reaction from all political parties , as well as health experts and medical professionals . The Mail yesterday revealed how hospital bosses had taken £35million in pay rises during the worst funding crisis in a generation . And today it can be revealed that some could dodge tax by channelling salaries through personal companies . The practice is being used by temporary executives – some of whom earn more than £2,000 a day – and allows them to avoid paying income tax and national insurance in the normal way . Dr Sarah Wollaston , former Tory chairman of the health select committee , said : ‘ I was asked about the Mail ’ s investigation today at an open public meeting . People are right to be concerned about the best use of public money. ’ Labour health spokesman Andy Burnham has also vowed that a Labour government would investigate the Mail ’ s evidence . And he said the astonishing pay rises should be ‘ clawed back ’ , adding : ‘ It can not be right at a time when NHS staff have been asked to accept years of [ pay ] freezes to see this level of excess at the top. ’ The extraordinary pay deals have also been condemned by the Royal College of Nursing , which branded them ‘ shocking ’ , while health experts including the Royal College of Physicians and government health adviser Sir Brian Jarman demanded a review . Former Commons public accounts committee chairman Margaret Hodge , who investigated tax avoidance by public officials three years ago , said NHS trusts should be ‘ hauled ’ before MPs to be held to account . ‘ This is a way of avoiding tax , ’ the Labour MP said . ‘ The reason the Treasury took action to stop public officials being paid through personal service companies was because my committee uncovered this was going on . ‘ I ’ m cross the Government has not stopped this and a future government has got to sort it out . ‘ They should make it a condition that if you are being paid with taxpayer money you have to be properly on the books. ’ Roger Goss , of Patient Concern , said the situation was ‘ ludicrous ’ , adding : ‘ There is no way of justifying it. ’ Dave Prentis , general secretary of Unison , said : ‘ It ’ s sickening to see top NHS bosses using the tax rules for personal gain. ’ Labour 's health spokesman Andy Burnham said his party would investigate the Mail 's findings if elected .
The Health Secretary said the Mail 's campaign highlighted abuse of trusts . Promised a future Conservative Government to stop trusts as illegal . Labour health spokesman Andy Burnham vowed to publish findings . Other senior councillors said NHS trusts should be ' hauled ' before MPs .