News from the FDA

The union of choice for senior managers and professionals inpublic service

02 December 2002

[For Immediate Use]

Union calls for board to resign

Ministers at the Department of Health came underfire today from the FDA amid allegations of a Wild West, shoot first askquestions later attitude towards senior managers in the NHS.

Jeff Chandra, one of the small number of ethnicminority chief executives employed in the service, left Good Hope HospitalTrust claiming constructive dismissal today.Mr Chandra identified waiting list irregularities during 2001 and hadworked hard to solve the systemic problems causing difficulties. No evidencehas been found to implicate Mr Chandra in any wrongdoing, despite numerousinvestigations, and the Trust has confided to Mr Chandra that it needed apublic hanging to satisfy its masters.

The trust has been unwilling to instigate a fairprocess to investigate complaints made by Mr Chandra, or to constitute anacceptable panel to hear disciplinary proceedings following his suspension inAugust.

Jonathan Baume, FDA General Secretary said:

It is the board that should have resignedtoday. Senior managers will never beable to expect fair treatment while clear processes do not exist andpoliticians can so easily interfere in the employment relationship between thetrust and senior manager.

Paul Whiteman, who heads the FDAs health section,said:

This is the first real test of the principles ofthe new code of conduct. The right tobe treated fairly has clearly been breached.It seems the governments fine words again lack support."

Mr Chandra said:

I am leaving Good Hope with great sadness becauseI believe the actions of the Trust Board have left me no other option. The Trust has refused to establish a fairand independent process for hearing the facts about the waiting list problemsthat have emerged. I believe I am beingscapegoated because as Chief Executive I sought to highlight and address theseproblems in an open and determined way, and this appears to have causedembarrassment to the Trust Board.

Notesfor Editors

1. TheFDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UKs 11,000senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, seniormanagers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, specialadvisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers

2. Forfurther information contact:

JonathanBaume (general secretary) on 020-7343-1111 or07976-951191 (mobile)

Paul Whiteman (head of business development)on 020 73431130 or 07967 185356 (mobile)

Simon Moore (chief press officer) on020-7343-1111 or 07967 484441 (mobile)