Hospital gets new chief executive

John Watkinson had been on extended leave before he was suspended

An acting chief executive takes over at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) later.

It follows the suspension of current boss John Watkinson on Thursday, pending an investigation on management at the Cornish trust.

RCHT finance director Joe Teape is to be the trust's acting chief executive.

Some senior doctors are furious at the move, but the RCHT said the suspension did not imply any negative judgement on Mr Watkinson's performance in Cornwall.

The investigation follows a report on financial management at Mr Watkinson's former employers, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust (BHT) in London, which has debts of £87m.

Acting chairman of the RCHT John Mills said the suspension was to "facilitate" an independent review into the Cornish trust's management and "corporate governance arrangements".

Suspension condemned

The joint investigation was announced by the South West Strategic Health Authority and the board of the RCHT last week.

It wants to know whether issues of competence and behaviour, highlighted by the Bromley report, have been repeated in Cornwall.

Three other former directors at Bromley are also working at the RCHT.

Mr Watkinson, who has been on extended leave, has not commented on his suspension.

More than 200 senior doctors at the RCHT have issued a statement condemning Mr Watkinson's suspension.