The chairman of Medway hospital is paid more than £14,000 a month to work as little as one day a week.

Christopher Langley was appointed interim chairman of Medway NHS Foundation Trust in February after his predecessor stepped down.

He is paid £14,400 a month - plus an extra 10% to cover expenses.

According to his contract, his role requires him to work “an average of one or two days a week” including board meetings.

If Mr Langley spends one day a week at the trust, it amounts to pay of £3,300 a day, plus £330 expenses.

Mr Langley was appointed by Monitor, the regulator for foundation trusts, on a one-year contract. His earnings and expenses are paid by the hospital trust, which was put in special measures last year following a review into high death rates.

The money is paid to West Eaton Consulting, of which Mr Langley is a director.

Monitor also appointed Nigel Beverley as interim chief executive earlier this year. He is paid £1,740 a day, including VAT.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust referred queries to Monitor.

A spokesman for Monitor said: “When we took action in February, Medway was one of the most challenged foundation trusts in the country and faced a range of serious issues.

The trust needed the right people in place to make the urgent improvements needed for its patients, which is why the interim chair and chief executive were appointed.”

He said the regulator was made aware of the proposed package for the chairman and “sought advice to confirm that the package was legally sound.”

A Care Quality Commission inspection report on the hospital in Gillingham is due to be published in the next few weeks.