HEALTH chiefs have revealed they have paid out £1.4million in redundancy costs following the creation of a new strategic health authority for Kent.

The South East Coast Strategic Health Authority was formed last July following the merger of the Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority with Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority.

Its job is to co-ordinate health care for the region and ensure government policy is implemented. It came into being as a result of a national cull of strategic health authorities aimed at cutting red tape and administration costs.

But the creation of the new health group landed the NHS with a bill of £1.46million, the sum paid out in redundancy to 48 employees.

One of those losing their job in the shake-up was a senior director who received some £60,000.

The scale of the redundancy payments has been condemned by shadow Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley. He said: "These are the kind of costs that result from endless reorganisations. Not one penny contributs to the health of patients."

In a statement, NHS South East Coast said that it forecast a 15 per cent reduction in management and administration costsby 2008-09, resulting in £21million more being available for patient services.

"At the time, we said any costs associated with redundancy and early retirements would be offset by the savings generated in the interim."

The statement added that many of those made redundant had found new jobs in the NHS "which is good news for them and good news for the NHS."

The figures were disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.