THE chairman of Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has spoken of his "bitter disappointment" about not being reappointed to the role.

Martin Lawn, who has been chairman for the past four years, has now written to Health Secretary Alan Milburn over a number of concerns regarding the assessment progress.

Mr Lawn was told earlier this year that the trust's performance together with his personal performance did not warrant his automatic reappointment and that the position was being advertised.

Although he re-applied for the post and was shortlisted, Mr Lawn was not successful.

He said: "I'm really disappointed about what's happened. The assessment was carried out without any discussion with me, with no regard to our own trust board's assessments and with no input from North Essex Health Authority.

"The assessment requested input from various local sources but as far as I know none of it was used. I feel the reasons for making this kind of decision should be related to the hospital's performance and my performance as chairman and seeing as Princess Alexandra is a three-star hospital, I find the result of the assessment very surprising.

"The result seemed to ignore very many of the good things that have been going on at Princess Alexandra Hospital and what my particular contribution has been."

The assessment was carried out by Eastern Regional Appointments Commissioner Rosie Varley and Eastern Region director Peter Houghton.

Mr Lawn said: "My personal view is that the assessment process was carried out in a thoroughly unprofessional way and the judgement of performance was seriously flawed. I feel I have been sacked for no good reason."

Mr Lawn's term as chairman ends on Friday, November 30.

November 22, 2001 8:28