Hospitsal bosses warned over pay-off

As East Sussex Hospital NHS Trust revealed this week that Annette Sergeant would be replaced in October two local MPs were monitoring the situation.

Battle and Bexhill MP Gregory Barker said: "I am furious anyone could walk away from this situation with a huge pay-off and leave the local hospital in financial crisis."

And Michael Foster, MP for Hastings and Rye, said: "I am surprised by rumours she is leaving with a substantial financial settlement. What on earth has happened that could make that possible?

"It is very difficult to see any context in which a substantial payment would be made."

The Trust was only awarded a one-star performance rating and is more than 3m in the red.

Mr Barker said: "Being chief executive of any large organisation is no easy job and it requires the person in that role to perform. That performance clearly has not been met.

"Therefore I cannot understand that in the process of letting her go why anything other than the minimum contractual severance should be paid.

"It is clear that the Trust is negotiating way beyond Mrs Sergeant's legal entitlement - with our money.

"I have made my views known directly to the chairman and if he and his non-executive colleagues refuse to take heed I will raise this matter directly with the Secretary of State for Health.

"We know Ms Sergeant had friends in high places, coming from the Department of Health, but there can be absolutely no excuse for such a shameful abuse of taxpayers' money."

Mr Foster has also written to the Trust expressing his concern.

He said: "I have the highest regard for staff at the Conquest Hospital who are delivering ever improving services for my constituents.

"I am therefore concerned that the recent disclosures of significant overspends at the Conquest Hospital and the rumours about the future of Annette Sergeant the chief executive should not undermine the quality of care that is presently provided.

"A new chief executive has been appointed by the Trust to start work next month and on a permanent contract.

"To my mind, if a chief executive or any other officer needs support that support should be given.

"If, however, they are unable to do the job for which they are employed they should be allowed to go."

But John Lewis, chairman of East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Conquest Hospital in Hastings and Eastbourne DGH, said: "Annette Sergeant remains in the Trust's employment but is absent for personal reasons.

"Any discussions between the Trust and Annette Sergeant are confidential.

"We can make no further comments on this situation until we have completed the discussions.

"Meanwhile, we have agreed to pursue discussions with others about the leadership of the Trust and I am therefore happy to announce Kim Hodgson's appointment." But he added that Mrs Sergeant would no longer be employed by the Trust after October 10.

Mr Lewis said there were "extenuating circumstances" on why the job was not advertised and the Trust had full support from the Strategic Health Authority (SHA).

He said that Mrs Sergeant's skills were "not right".