NHS England shocked by allegations against ex hospital chief executive

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital would not disclose details of its inquiry

NHS England has described allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour involving a former hospital chief executive as "shocking".

The Health Service Journal reported the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Shropshire carried out an investigation into the behaviour of Mark Brandreth.

The trust has not published its findings, but it recommended he was not "fit and proper" to be on an NHS board.

Mr Brandreth said he "strongly denied" the allegations.

In a statement, he said he was "shocked and saddened" by the accusations, which he described as "unfounded and malicious" and he said the hospital's investigation had been "flawed and biased".

He said he intended to ask NHS England to intervene and review the trust's handling of the complaints.

He is also considering legal action against the trust.

Mark Brandreth became Director of the Nightingale Hospital programme in 2020

The investigation was carried out by the hospital trust, which said it had received complaints.

The HSJ said that after investigating the allegations, the hospital trust then made a recommendation to NHS England to declare him "not a fit and proper person" to hold a position on an NHS board.

'Strengthened procedures'

The orthopaedic hospital said it would not disclose any details about its findings.

It said this was to protect the privacy of individuals who took part in its Freedom To Speak Up process.

Stacey Keegan, the hospital's current chief executive, said the board had "recently strengthened our own internal procedures", which included the Fit and Proper Persons tests.

NHS England did not comment on the reported findings, but said: "These allegations are shocking, and it is right that issues affecting the safety of staff at work are taken seriously."

It said it had recently reminded senior leaders to do "everything possible to ensure concerns by staff can be easily raised and immediately acted on and strengthened how background checks are conducted for senior staff."

NHS England employed Mr Brandreth as the Director of the Nightingale Hospital programme in 2020.

It said: "NHS England was not aware of any concerns before this individual temporarily joined the organisation in 2020 during the pandemic."

Mr Brandreth said in his statement he had always acted with integrity and professionalism during his time as the trust's CEO.

He said he was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself or to challenge the evidence presented by the complainants and was "confident that his reputation would be cleared and that he would continue to serve the health sector".

He also said he had received support from his former colleagues and peers and was appalled by the impact of the allegations on his personal and professional life.