A TOTAL of £378,000 has been spent giving a golden handshake to a Bury health boss, it has been revealed.

Philip Bacon, the former chief executive of Bury Health Care NHS Trust, has received a golden handshake from the cash-strapped NHS as part of a massive restructuring. Mr Bacon lost his post when the local trust was disbanded and replaced by The Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust.

Bury Community Health Council chief officer Paul Reynolds said: "Bury CHC is totally shocked at the size of the amount of money involved. Clearly members will have to consider this matter given that Bury's health service is hard-pressed for resources." The CHC could possibly make strong representation to the Secretary of State."

We have a meeting on Monday and will be discussing this matter."

Health Minister Jacqui Smith confirmed the £378,000 cost of Mr Bacon's package and said the figure had been approved by external auditors.

She said the figure represent the cost to the employer and included the capitalised costs of an early retirement pension as well as any redundancy and pay in lieu of notice payments."

In 1995, there was controversy when it was revealed that Mr Bacon was receiving £84,000 a year to run the trust, one of the smallest in the north west.