A hospital trust has come under fire for breaching announcement rules and putting its new chief executive in an “untenable position”.
West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed former civil servant Matthew Coats as its new boss on April 7 – despite knowing government rules prohibited public confirmation until approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointment (ACOBA).
Cvil servants wishing to take up a new job within two years of leaving must seek advice from ACOBA.
Rt Hon Lord Pickles, chair of the ACOBA, blamed the trust and said Mr Coats had clearly informed it of the rules and asked them to abide by them.
In a letter on behalf of ACOBA, Mr Pickles said: “It is a matter of some regret that the trust chose to put its needs before that of the rules, which has put Mr Coats in an untenable position.”
READ ALSO:
He added: “It is not clear if the trust considered whether it could take an alternative approach to protecting its own interests and that of Mr Coats and the government by following the rules.”
However, Mr Pickles concluded it was a “minor breach”, which was not Mr Coats’ fault, and further action would be “disproportionate”.
Phil Townsend, chairman of the trust, explained that the decision to announce the appointment was made with “a real need to maintain staff confidence”.
Responding in a letter, he wrote: “It would be expected that an announcement to a chief executive role would normally be provided to staff and stakeholders and the wider system within days following the final interview process.
“This is important for the credibility and stability of the trust as well as our partners.”
The chairman stated that the decision to announce the appointment was “made in good faith and with the best interests of the economy”.
He added it was “unfortunate” that it did not align to the government's arrangements.
The trust did not wish to comment further than the letter from Mr Townsend.
Mr Coats will still replace Christine Allen as the new chief executive in July.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel