Sacked Cornwall hospital boss's £1.2m compensation cut

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

A former Cornwall hospitals boss awarded £1.2m after being sacked has had his compensation cut by nearly a quarter by an employment tribunal.

Last May the tribunal ruled John Watkinson was unfairly dismissed by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust in 2009.

His award, which he was yet to receive, has been reduced to £884,707.

The tribunal said the award was adjusted after new calculations over pension contributions and potential loss of earnings.

Mr Watkinson will not receive any money until an appeal by the trust is completed.

The trust admitted unfairly dismissing him - but has appealed against the ruling that he was whistle-blowing.

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

The outcome will not be known for several weeks.

Mr Watkinson was unfairly dismissed after voicing fears about moving cancer services out of Cornwall to Devon.