HEALTH managers spent almost £1,500 on training away days so staff could “focus”.

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group spent £1,461.90 on four training events at venues including Oxford’s Said Business School.

The group – which recently cut some free hospital transport and has to save £15.7m this year – has offices at Oxford Business Park South, Cowley.

A group spokeswoman said: “Like most other organisations when we hold training days for our staff these usually take place away from people’s place of work.”

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She said this was to “enable people to focus for the day, not get interrupted, and ensure we are getting the best out of them for the benefit of the organisation”.

The spending included £828 at the business school, including £242.40 on catering for “executive training” in September 2013 and March.

Two training events at Oxford Science Park in June and July last year cost £633.90, including £457.20 catering.

The figures were obtained by the Oxford Mail under the Freedom of Information Act.

It also spent £2,312 on commissioning events at The King’s Centre, Osney Mead, the Kassam Stadium and Clarendon Business Centre, Oxford.

The main reason for events at other venues “will be due to the number of people attending, accessibility for attendees from across the county, parking requirements and availability of meeting rooms at Jubilee House” it said.

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