Unedited report sparks calls for NHS trust review

Prof Derek Bell "disagrees" with a report criticising his search for a new NHS boss

Former non-executive directors of an NHS trust have called for a review of its senior leadership team following a probe into the trust's governance.

The NHS England investigation centred on chairman Derek Bell's search for a new CEO to lead two trusts covering north and south Tees, but when the report was published much of it was redacted.

A group of former non-execs successfully petitioned a judge to have some of the redactions removed and said the new information warranted a change in leadership.

University Hospitals Tees, a group formed by the two trusts, said the report did not say the strategic alliance should not have been made and its creation was "not in question".

The investigation, which took place in 2022, began five months after Prof Bell was appointed joint chairman of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTH) and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The two trusts work closely together and in the future could move to a group structure. Because of this, Prof Bell quickly sought to find a single CEO to head up both organisations.

But according to the report, governors and non-executive directors "felt it too soon" for a single chief executive to be hired and disagreements arose.

The two Teesside hospital trusts work closely together and Prof Bell believed they would benefit from a single CEO

In its conclusion, the probe found Prof Bell "did not handle the arrangements for his proposal for a single CEO effectively".

It said there were "misunderstandings and miscommunications" caused by Prof Bell's inexperience and the strongly held views of others.

"Overall, poor communications, some hasty actions, and position-taking appear to characterise this dispute, leading to high levels of personal stress for all those involved," the report stated.

It also said Prof Bell "disagrees with the investigator's conclusion" which he believed was "unwarranted and unsubstantiated by evidence".

The fallout from the situation and the resulting investigation led to many of the non-executive directors resigning.

However, the report also notes Prof Bell's attempt to rectify the situation was undermined when a director released confidential information about board discussions.

Former Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham wants a review into the trust's leadership

One of the ex-directors, former Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham, said he did not think the report's criticism of the directors was justified.

Mr Cunningham has, along with former directors Jonathan Erskine, Rita Taylor, Steve Hall and former NTH CEO Julie Gillon, written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting calling for the trust's leadership to be formally reviewed.

They claim by originally redacting parts of the report, NTH's board and council of governors were "denied important information at a point in time when this was crucial when considering the way forward".

They also claimed NHS services had worsened in the area.

Mr Cunningham said: "We would like the government to look very closely at the deterioration in services and staff morale under the current chair, non executive directors and CEO and look to strengthen the board and its leadership.

"That change is needed if services are to be turned around, high staff morale restored and our communities provided with the local NHS they need."

University Hospital Tees is a strategic alliance formed between the two Tees trusts, of which Stacey Hunter was appointed CEO last year.

Ms Hunter disputed the claim services had deteriorated at NTH and said its urgent and emergency care was ranked among the best in the region.

"In common with all trusts across England, [NTH] is making good progress on reducing waiting times, as we continue our elective recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.

"The NHS staff survey saw us score highly in staff morale, staff engagement, compassion and inclusivity," Ms Hunter added.

The Department for Health and Social Care confirmed it had received the letter to the Secretary of State and would respond in due course.

NHS England has been contacted for comment.