NHS managers in the region were handed an extra £130,000 last year when front-line staff faced another year of pay freezes, a report will reveal today (Thursday).

The data is released by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) as public sector union leaders plan a week of industrial action and protests over pay.

The RCN report shows that senior NHS managers across the North-East and Cumbria saw their pay increase in 2013/14.

According to the research, Professor Tricia Hart, who was appointed as chief executive at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust during the financial year, was given a remuneration package of £220,000 to £225,000 - up £15,000 on her predecessor.

Sue Jacques, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, received an extra £5,000

Criticising the pay increases, RCN regional director Glenn Turp said it was one rule for managers and another for front-line nursing staff.

"The Government failed to honour the one per cent pay rise it promised nurses back in 2013, and as if that is not bad enough, they are now asking the Pay Review Body to look into other areas where they can start cutting away at nursing terms and conditions.

"Little wonder that we now have a shortfall of 20,000 nurses coming into the profession."

Mr Turp said a band three health care assistant at the middle of their pay band earned £17,794 a year.

He added: "The average remuneration of an NHS CEO in the North-East and Cumbria is over £200,000 a year.

"That is almost twelve times the salary of a health care assistant."

A spokeswoman for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The salary for the CEO post had remained static for a number of years.

"In seeking a replacement for the previous CEO we did a benchmarking exercise against other similar organisations and decided to increase the basic salary to help attract the best candidate.

"Even with the increase we still pay less than many other large acute trusts.”

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “Chief executive Sue Jacques, and our executive directors, received a one per cent pay rise last year which is in line with the national pay increase awarded to all NHS staff.”

RCN members will take part in a national demonstration on public sector pay in London on October 18 under the banner "Britain Needs A Pay Rise".

Other public sector unions will take industrial action during the same week amid growing anger over pay freezes.