The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group was formed earlier this year as part of an effective merger between the Norfolk and Norwich, James Paget and Queen Elizabeth hospitals.

The move has created a single decision-making body for the three hospitals under a single chief executive, confirmed this month to be Lesley Dwyer, the current CEO of the Norfolk and Norwich.

Local NHS bosses have declined to reveal the salary Prof Dwyer will be taking home in her newly-created role as group chief executive.

But it is expected her post will be one of at least four newly-created roles within the shake-up that will collect six-figure salaries.

While the three hospitals are set to share Prof Dwyer as chief executive, each site will have its own executive managing director, who will oversee the individual sites on a day-to-day basis.

NHS bosses have confirmed that these posts, as well as Prof Dwyer's, will be "very senior manager" (VSM) roles.

And while these roles do not appear on NHS pay scales, with a new framework for VSMs expected to be published imminently, the current average salary for these roles within the organisation is around £140,000.

Prof Dwyer, however, is currently understood to earn around £250,000 per year in her role at the N&N.

And across the three sites, there are currently 10 executives earning more than £150,000 - four each at the N&N and QEH and two at the James Paget.

It is not yet known if any of these posts will be lost as part of the restructure.

The bumper salaries have angered union representatives, particularly coming at a time when the hospitals are planning to make hundreds of job cuts in non-clinical roles.

Caroline Hennessy, head of health at UNISON Eastern, said: "Staff are coming to terms with proposals for major job losses in Norfolk.

"A mass reorganisation of NHS services in the area on top of that won't reassure workers or patients.

"Any cuts to workforce numbers will have a major impact on the ability of health staff to give the treatment and care the community deserves.

"Spreading resources more thinly with a management shake-up is not going to improve patient care, nor make staff feel valued."