Witch hunt claims 'preposterous'

John Watkinson is on leave

Senior doctors, health groups and a local council have condemned an investigation into a hospital boss.

Consultants described the investigation of John Watkinson, chief executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), as a "witch hunt".

They claimed Mr Watkinson was being targeted because of his stance against the transfer of cancer services from Cornwall to Plymouth.

The NHS in the South West has dismissed the allegations as "preposterous".

The investigation into Mr Watkinson follows a report into the financial management of his former employer, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust (BHT) in London, which is facing an accumulated debt of �87m.

'Impartial' review

Last week an independent review was announced by the South West Strategic Health Authority and the board of the RCHT looking at the Cornish trust's governance and financial management.

But on Monday, senior medical staff said they believed Mr Watkinson had been the subject of an "orchestrated attack".

The RCHT rejected any suggestion of a witch hunt and said the review would be "impartial and thorough".

It said it would consider whether issues of competence and behaviour highlighted by Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust had in any way occurred in Cornwall.

Mr Watkinson, who took up his post at the RCHT in January 2007, has been on leave since the joint investigation began.

'No-nonsense approach'

The RCHT said the Bromley review raised no concerns about standards of patient care, and there were no concerns about the quality of patient care which continued to be provided by staff at the RCHT.

Consultants, who are holding a meeting later to discuss the matter, are to ask Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, to intervene.

Mr Watkinson also has the support of patients' groups.

"John Watkinson is not your typical 'follow the rule book' type of NHS manager," Health Initiative Cornwall spokeswoman Sheena Cox said.

Meanwhile, Marna Blundy from West Cornwall Healthwatch said the decision to investigate Mr Watkinson was "astonishing".

'Inaccurate' claims

"In the time he has been in Cornwall, John has overseen a huge turnaround with RCHT, both in finances and in attitudes," she said.

Penwith District Council said Mr Watkinson had transformed the way the trust worked and called for him to be judged on his record.

NHS South West has issued a statement dismissing "inaccurate claims".

Chairman Sir Mike Pitt said the review was to ensure similar failings at Bromley had not occurred in Cornwall.

"The review is about an appropriate response to serious misconduct at Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust and is not connected to any other events," the statement said.

Details of the review will be announced later this week.

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