Sacked hospital boss's £1.2m compensation reviewed

Mr Watkinson, who was sacked in 2009, has not yet received any of his compensation money

Compensation awarded to a sacked hospital boss in Cornwall is being reviewed.

Last May an employment tribunal ruled John Watkinson was unfairly dismissed in 2009 for voicing fears about moving cancer services out of the county.

He was awarded £1.2m in compensation, but the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) has appealed against the amount.

If the trust loses its appeal, Mr Watkinson will get the agreed sum plus interest of 8%.

The employment tribunal said the RCHT had acted under pressure from South West Strategic Health Authority (SHA) when they dismissed Mr Watkinson.

Because the trust is appealing, Mr Watkinson has still not received any of the money.

The result of the compensation appeal is expected in two weeks.

However, in January this year an inquiry report by Verita claimed the pressure to sack Mr Watkinson was justified.

Verita is a specialist body which conducts independent inquiries for the NHS.

It said the SHA put pressure on the RCHT because of the board's poor performance, not the row over cancer services.