Men don’t live as long as women ‘because their wives nag them to death’ says top NHS boss
Sir Andrew Morris sparked outrage when he made the remarks in front of 150 leading medics and health experts
AN NHS boss has been branded a “dinosaur” after claiming men have a shorter life span because they are nagged to death by their wives.
Sir Andrew Morris was accused of “every day sexism” and jeered for his remarks in front of 150 leading medics and health experts.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, and Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, were among those present.
They had gathered at Central London think tank The King’s Fund to discuss controversial money-saving plans, including A&E closures and hospital mergers.
Sir Andrew, chief executive of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, boasted of his success in slashing hospital admissions and GP referrals.
And he questioned how society was going to cope with the growing problem of loneliness in old age.
But he shocked the meeting by saying: “Usually the blokes die off earlier because they’re nagged to death by the other half.”
Sir Andrew – paid £220,000 a year – then landed himself in more trouble by apologising to “the ladies in the room”.
Delegates labelled the remarks “shocking” and “patronising”.
Jon Rouse, from the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, described it as an “extraordinary sexist comment”.
He added: “Dinosaurs still roam in East Berkshire.”
Lizzy Dobres, from the UK Council for Psychotherapy, said: “Shocked to hear Andrew Morris say men die younger cause ‘women nag them’ - still such a long way to go.”
Dr Richard Preece, also from GMHSCP, joked it was easy for Sir Andrew to boast of outstanding improvements “when the comparator is the Jurassic”.
And Andrew McCracken, from National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities, said: “Even the apology was rubbish.”
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One Twitter user sarcastically praised Sir Andrew’s “obviously scientific approach”.
And another added: “It’s wonderful to know our NHS is in the hands of chaps like these isn’t it.”
Sir Andrew, 61, told The Sun: “I made a comment that I realised right away was completely inappropriate. I would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence that it caused.”
Mr Morris’s trust covers Mr Hunt’s own constituency.
He has previously been named the country’s top health chief executive for his “commitment to mentoring staff” and his “sound leadership qualities”.
The Trust provides NHS hospital services for around 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and south Buckinghamshire.
Life expectancy in the UK is 79.1 years for men and 82.8 years for women.