Ex-hospital boss's anger over complaint

A former hospital boss has said he is outraged by the behaviour of the organisation that appointed the new county hospitals trust chairman.

Phil Scarlett believes the Appointments Commission hired Paul Richardson to oust the then chief executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Gary Walker.

Mr Scarlett, who resigned from his post as non-executive director of the trust in December, made a complaint about the appointment but has now been told that this will be dealt with by the Appointments Commission.

He has vowed to take his complaint further.

The situation stems from a row over missed government targets, which came to a head in July last year.

Former chairman of the trust David Bowles was suspended and resigned.

Mr Walker then went off sick with stress and it was announced yesterday he has now left the trust.

Mr Scarlett is questioning why the Appointments Commission, which hires public sector bosses, gave Mr Richardson the interim role as chairman of the trust in July – at the time which the row first broke out – then made the position permanent in December.

He alleges in May last year he applied for a non-executive director post with the trust, but failed to be shortlisted.

Leila Brosnan, of the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, said in a letter to Mr Scarlett: "In accordance with our complaints policy, the Commissioner for Public Appointments will await the outcome of the complaints investigation by the Appointments Commission before considering whether to conduct her own investigation."

Both the Appointments Commission and the Commissioner for Public Appointments declined to comment