Claire Austin will get the payment for this year’s consultation on the controversial plans – despite NHS authorities having their own in-house PR teams.
Bosses last month announced that doctor-led births would leave the hospital from April – ahead of consultation, set to start in August.
They have warned of ‘significant reputational damage’.
Figures list ‘communications advice’ as £40,000, about the cost of two nurses.
And ‘workshops and engagement events’ will cost £30,000 with ‘consultation costs’ at £60,000 and £20,000 for ‘other’.
Staff costs are expected to be to a value of £45,000, an NHS report says.
Solihull NHS Care Trust last week told The Silhillian that Miss Austin has ‘wide experience in that role across the West Midlands’.
It said: “Both trusts are committed to consulting with communities who would potentially be affected by this review and this is reflected in the setting aside of additional money to ensure that happens.”
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