Independent review team is named

John Watkinson had been on extended leave before he was suspended

The independent team which will review management at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) has been named.

The joint review was ordered by the RCHT and the South West Strategic Health Authority.

Hospital Chief Executive John Watkinson was suspended last week after an investigation into Bromley NHS Trust, where he used to work.

The review will be lead by Professor Ruth Hawker, who has worked for the NHS for 50 years after starting as a nurse.

She will be assisted by David Stout, director of finance and communications at NHS North East. They will be joined by David Fielding and Dr Neil Goodwin, who both work outside the NHS.

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

The 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.

The review is expected to be concluded by the end of November.