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| Southern Health NHS Trust 'paid millions' to Katrina Percy's associates | Southern Health NHS Trust 'paid millions' to Katrina Percy's associates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A troubled NHS trust has paid millions of pounds to companies owned by previous associates of its embattled chief executive, BBC News has learned. | |
| One firm received more than £5m despite winning a contract valued at less than £300,000, while another was paid more than £500,000 without bidding at all. | One firm received more than £5m despite winning a contract valued at less than £300,000, while another was paid more than £500,000 without bidding at all. |
| Both are owned by former acquaintances of Southern Health NHS Trust's chief executive Katrina Percy. | |
| The trust said it took its financial responsibilities "very seriously". | The trust said it took its financial responsibilities "very seriously". |
| 'Failure of leadership' | 'Failure of leadership' |
| The BBC has also learned Southern Health has access to the services of former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell, after it hired Portland Communications to help with its ongoing problems. | The BBC has also learned Southern Health has access to the services of former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell, after it hired Portland Communications to help with its ongoing problems. |
| Mental health trust Southern Health has been under intense scrutiny since an NHS England-commissioned report in December found it failed to investigate the unexpected deaths of hundreds of patients. | Mental health trust Southern Health has been under intense scrutiny since an NHS England-commissioned report in December found it failed to investigate the unexpected deaths of hundreds of patients. |
| A failure of leadership and governance at the trust was blamed for the problems, a conclusion a subsequent CQC report in April agreed with. | A failure of leadership and governance at the trust was blamed for the problems, a conclusion a subsequent CQC report in April agreed with. |
| In light of the criticisms, Katrina Percy, the only chief executive the trust has ever had, has faced widespread calls to resign but has refused to do so. | In light of the criticisms, Katrina Percy, the only chief executive the trust has ever had, has faced widespread calls to resign but has refused to do so. |