CRITICISM has been levelled at the former head of a scandal-hit Hampshire health trust who will continue to rake in a £245,000 annual salary despite stepping down after months of widespread condemnation.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Katrina Percy dramatically fell on her sword in the wake of a series of scandals including the organisation's failure to investigate the deaths of hundreds of people in its care.

But it was revealed that she is not leaving the Trust but is being kept on in a 'strategic' role with the same salary.

That decision has sparked anger among grieving families slammed the trust as "outrageous" for allowing her to retain her six-figure pay check while serving in a new advisory role within the Calmore-based trust.

Trust bosses last night defended the decision claiming Ms Percy is "ideally suited" for the new position at they claim will improve patient care in the region.

As previously reported Ms Percy faced a barrage of criticism following a scathing Care Quality Commission (CQC) report accusing the trust of "serious failings" in failing to investigate the deaths of hundreds of people between 2011 and 2015.

The trust runs a series of services for people with mental health problems and disabilities, providing services for 45,000 people in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Yesterday Ms Percy released a statement saying that she was stepping down - but will continue working in the organisation providing strategic advice to GPs to help improve health services in Hampshire.

It emerged that she will continue to receive her annual salary of up to £190,00 - rising to £245,000 with pension related benefits while the Trust begins their search for a new Chief Executive - on a similar pay scale.

Dr Sara Ryan, whose son Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, died while in the trust's care in Slade House in Headington, Oxfordshire, three years ago, said: "It is outrageous and scandalous.

"This is public money and this is our taxpayers money she is receiving. A sideways move is nonsense. She should have gone a long time a go."

But Dr Ryan expressed "relief" that Ms Percy was leaving and added: "Hopefully the trust can re-group, make the changes that are needed and focus on providing good patient care."

Southampton Healthwatch chairman Harry Dymond condemned Ms Percy's new position as "unnecessary spending" and added: "I have concerns that people in the NHS can be given a role when in the private sector they would have been dismissed. Regardless of rights and wrongs she had overall control of the trust and she should have acted quicker to step down.

"Southern Health has a lot of fences to mend and they have to mend them very quickly."

Hampshire County Council ward UKIP councillor for Eastleigh East Cllr Andy Moore said: "If you've failed you should take a cut in salary. Can the NHS afford to pay the same money and still protect the services they provide?"

"It needs restructuring from the top to the bottom."

Director of nursing Julie Dawes, replaces Ms Percy as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is found.

A trust spokeswoman said recruitment is starting immediately but it could take at least six months before someone is selected.

She said a new chief executive's salary would have to be negotiated.

She defended Ms Percy's salary and said: "She is delivering strategic advice at the same level and still covering the size and scope of the area."

Meanwhile Ms Dawes will be supported by Dr Matthew Patrick who is chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust - a former nursing director at Oxford Health.

Southern Health interim chairman Tim Smart had initially backed Ms Percy's leadership and in a review released in June, when he suggested she was best-placed to continue heading the organisation.

But after stepping down Ms Percy said: "Since then I have reflected on the effect the ongoing personal media attention has had on staff and patients and have come to the conclusion that this has made my role untenable.

I have therefore come to the difficult decision to step down from my role as chief executive after nine years."

She added: "I know, and understand, that many will say I should have stepped down sooner given the very public concerns which have been raised in the past months.

"I stayed on as I firmly believed it was my responsibility to oversee the necessary improvements and to continue the ground breaking work we have begun with GPs to transform care for our patients.”

She said she was "humbled" by the "overwhelming" support from staff and colleagues.

Mr Smart said her decision is in the "best interests" for the trust, patients and staff to build on work already being done with the GP Alliance.

He said: "There is vital work that needs to be done for which she is ideally suited. She has shown great resilience, devoting herself to the patients and staff of Southern Health since it was created in 2011."

Hampshire MPs were among those urging trust bosses to take steps to improve patient care after her stepping down.

Fareham MP Suella Fernandes said: "Every one of these deaths is a personal tragedy for the family and friends concerned, who have lost a father, mother, sister, brother or a close friend, and it is important that this loss is remembered. For those who lost loved ones, there needs to be assurances that action has been taken and vital change will take place to prevent future tragedies."