Anger at secrecy over CE's pay-off

Herstmonceux MP Gregory Barker fired off an angry letter to the Health Secretary, Dr John Reid, after the Trust refused to disclose Conquest Hospital boss Annette Sergeant's severance settlement.

Ms Sergeant, who left as head of the NHS Trust which runs both the Conquest Hospital, in Hastings, and the Eastbourne District General Hospital, is rumoured to have been given a 300,000 payoff.

The Conservative MP's letter, penned last September, has been made public this week following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Barker, who represents Bexhill and Battle, wrote to Dr John Reid MP at the Department of Health.

In it he said: 'As you may be aware, there has been considerable concern in East Sussex about the circumstances surrounding the recent departure of the Chief Executive of East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, Annette Sergeant.

'She departed on October 10 after the Trust gained only a one-star performance rating during its last assessment and has overspent by more than 3m.

'There have been reports that Mrs Sergeant may receive a considerable sum of money as part of her severance settlement and that this might be above her legal entitlement.

'However, the exact amount is impossible to verify since the Trust has refused to disclose the details.

'I find this unacceptable behaviour for a public body and cannot see any justification whatsoever to pay any termination compensation above the legal minimum requirement given the state she has left the Trust in.

'I have made my views known to the chairman of the Trust who refuses to disclose any details and I would be grateful if you could also look at this matter.'

But in her reply, also released under the Act, parliamentary under secretary Caroline Flint told Mr Barker the Department of Health was not involved in the day-to-day running of the Trust.

She wrote: 'This is an employment matter for the Trust and its former employee and it is therefore appropriate that the Trust responds to this request for information.'

She added that the Trust planned to reveal the pay-off in its next annual accounts in September.

A letter previously released by Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust revealed that Ms Sergeant left the Trust as it felt the need for 'a leader with a new set of skills'.

However, it made clear that she was not fired for 'poor performance' despite a Healthcare Commission report which found the Trust was riddled with claims of harassment and bullying. The Trust is now run by chief executive Kim Hodgson.