Review of high-profile dismissal
An independent review into the approach and behaviour of NHS South West in relation to the dismissal of John Watkinson by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Verita's review of the behaviour of NHS South West in relation to the dismissal of John Watkinson by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was published by the Department of Health on 4 January 2011.
This complex and high-profile piece of work was commissioned by Sir David Nicholson, NHS chief executive, after secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley announced the review to the House of Commons in June 2010.
John Watkinson was dismissed from his role as chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in April 2009 and took his case to employment tribunal. The tribunal found that Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust acted as it did as a result of pressure from NHS South West.
Verita's review, led by Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, found that NHS South West acted appropriately given its performance management responsibilities for NHS organisations in the south west and the fact that RCHT was not a foundation trust. The strategic health authority put appropriate pressure on the RCHT board to suspend John Watkinson but was not involved in the decision to dismiss him. The RCHT chair and non-executive directors were relatively inexperienced within the NHS and it was good practice for them to take advice from the more experienced strategic health authority before making their own decision what to do.
Andrew Lansley released a written ministerial statement on 10 January 2010, in which he outlined the report's findings to the House of Commons. The report is available on the Department of Health and Verita websites.