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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Colchester Hospital: Chief executive Gordon Coutts quits | Colchester Hospital: Chief executive Gordon Coutts quits |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief executive of a hospital under police investigation over alleged manipulation of cancer waiting times has resigned. | The chief executive of a hospital under police investigation over alleged manipulation of cancer waiting times has resigned. |
| Dr Gordon Coutts, who has been on sick leave, said he would not return to Colchester Hospital University NHS Trust. | Dr Gordon Coutts, who has been on sick leave, said he would not return to Colchester Hospital University NHS Trust. |
| Earlier this month it emerged he was told of concerns surrounding waiting time manipulation in 2011. | Earlier this month it emerged he was told of concerns surrounding waiting time manipulation in 2011. |
| Unison welcomed the decision and he said he should have gone "weeks ago". | Unison welcomed the decision and he said he should have gone "weeks ago". |
| The trust is facing three separate inquiries into the allegations. | The trust is facing three separate inquiries into the allegations. |
| £165,000 salary | £165,000 salary |
| The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said hospital staff were "pressured or bullied" to change patient records to meet government targets. | The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said hospital staff were "pressured or bullied" to change patient records to meet government targets. |
| Allegations of inaccuracies in the cancer data, made public last month, prompted a review by Essex Police, Monitor, the CQC and NHS England, and saw the hospital placed into special measures. | Allegations of inaccuracies in the cancer data, made public last month, prompted a review by Essex Police, Monitor, the CQC and NHS England, and saw the hospital placed into special measures. |
| Dr Coutts, who had a salary of £165,000 a year, did not attend a meeting of the trust board last week. | Dr Coutts, who had a salary of £165,000 a year, did not attend a meeting of the trust board last week. |
| It emerged he had been aware of concerns about waiting times more than two years ago, when he received a letter from a patient. | |
| In his response, Dr Coutts told the patient: "If you would like to provide me with any names or evidence of waiting list irregularities I will investigate this matter." | In his response, Dr Coutts told the patient: "If you would like to provide me with any names or evidence of waiting list irregularities I will investigate this matter." |
| Dr Coutts, who is leaving the hospital trust by "mutual consent", said: "I realise that this is an extremely difficult time for the trust as it seeks to understand where it has failed patients in the past and seeks to rebuild confidence. | Dr Coutts, who is leaving the hospital trust by "mutual consent", said: "I realise that this is an extremely difficult time for the trust as it seeks to understand where it has failed patients in the past and seeks to rebuild confidence. |
| 'I am sorry' | 'I am sorry' |
| "Underpinning this will be the need to lead and support staff to deliver high quality and safe services. | "Underpinning this will be the need to lead and support staff to deliver high quality and safe services. |
| "I regret that there have been problems in the trust's cancer services. | "I regret that there have been problems in the trust's cancer services. |
| "I am sorry that some of our patients were let down and that what has happened may have damaged local people's confidence in their hospitals." | "I am sorry that some of our patients were let down and that what has happened may have damaged local people's confidence in their hospitals." |
| The trust said Dr Coutts will remain available to provide information as and when required to by investigators. | The trust said Dr Coutts will remain available to provide information as and when required to by investigators. |
| Tim Roberts, Unison's regional organiser, said: "Mr Coutts should have resigned weeks ago. | Tim Roberts, Unison's regional organiser, said: "Mr Coutts should have resigned weeks ago. |
| "He was the leader of the organisation and was ultimately accountable for patient safety. | "He was the leader of the organisation and was ultimately accountable for patient safety. |
| "We hope the trust board will move quickly to recruit a new permanent chief executive who can lead the organisation out of the mess." | "We hope the trust board will move quickly to recruit a new permanent chief executive who can lead the organisation out of the mess." |
| Sue Barnett, the deputy chief executive, will take over while transition arrangements are made and an interim CEO is identified. | Sue Barnett, the deputy chief executive, will take over while transition arrangements are made and an interim CEO is identified. |
| The hospital said it would be recruiting a new chief executive in the new year. | The hospital said it would be recruiting a new chief executive in the new year. |