A CORNISH pressure group has announced its support for the chief executive of a hospital trust whose management methods are the subject of a review, following a highly critical report into the financial performance of his previous trust.

Health Initiative for Cornwall (HIC) has said that John Watkinson, chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has the best interests of patient care at heart and is raising questions about an alleged witch-hunt against him.

Joe McKenna, chairman of HIC said: "The Primary Care Trust is saying that cancer care is all going to go off to Derriford and it is well known that John Watkinson and Peter Davies were fighting very hard to retain cancer services in Cornwall."

Mr Watkins has been on leave from his post as chief executive since last week after a report emerged that he left his last post at Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, Kent, when it had accumulated £87million debts. An investigation in Bromley found that there was a £23 million deficit – £10 million worse than reported, while under Mr Watkinson's tenure.

But Mr McKenna said: "This report has been around for three months, then it appears the morning of the RCHT board meeting. Why was the report suddenly an issue?

"This whole thing appears to stink. We believe there's something going on."

After the news that Mr Watkinson left his former trust when it was in financial turmoil the RCHT announced a joint review together with South West Strategic Health Authority.

Mr McKenna said: "Recent events played out in the press by those responsible for overseeing and commissioning services for the population of Cornwall have led us to lose all confidence in the Primary Care Trust's ability to serve the population of Cornwall and the Strategic Health Authority to see Cornwall as an equal member of the health service within the Peninsula."

Sheena Cox, secretary of the HIC, believes that matters came to a head with the resignation of Peter Davies the then chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Board in July.

She said: "He refused a "clear request" from Sir Ian Carruthers to sign a joint press release due to be issued by Ann James, chief executive of the Primary Care Trust supporting the immediate transfer of Upper GI cancer surgical services to Derriford.

"Campaigners are well aware that, since then, John Watkinson has continued to fight for the retention of and improvement to cancer services in Cornwall."

HIC describe Mr Watkinson as "not your typical 'follow the rule book' type of NHS manager". Ms Cox said: "In the short time he has been here campaigners have realised that patient-centred care and public involvement is his watchword, indeed even the Bromley report states that he always had the 'best interest of patient care at heart'."

The South West Strategic Health Authority has refuted claims of a witch-hunt.

Gillian Humphreys, spokesman for the authority said: "The publication of the report (into the Bromley Trust) was completely out of our hands and we had no input.

"We were aware that it was coming about a month before it was published but did not know the content. The timing of our board meetings is decided months, if not years, in advance.

"We refute any suggestion of a witch-hunt and our review will be impartial and thorough.

"There is nothing we would want to say to pre-empt the report."