"Whistle blower" wins over £1 million in compensation

A former hospital boss who was sacked after opposing plans to transfer some cancer services has been awarded £1.2m in compensation.

John Watkinson, who was chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), was sacked in 2009. He claimed that this was because he had argued against plans to move some cancer services from Cornwall to Devon.

The employment tribunal into his dismissal ruled that that the decision taken by the trust was ‘substantively unfair’ as Mr Watkinson was about to reveal legal advice which suggested that the trust should have held a public consultation before moving services to Plymouth. The RCHT admitted that it unfairly dismissed Mr Watkinson but is appealing against the ruling that their former chief executive was a whistle blower.

Last month the Independent Reconfiguration Panel approved the transfer of services from Cornwall to Devon, saying that it was in the patients’ best interests as it would provide a better standard of care. The move was also supported by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

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