A MASS walkout of NHS directors has rocked a Teesside health trust amid calls for a board chief to resign his post. 

All but one of the six non-executive directors at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust have resigned.

Unrest over governance and efforts to merge chief executives of neighbouring South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool are thought to be behind the exodus. 

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Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has called on joint chairman Professor Derek Bell to resign or be removed amid fears the two trusts are nearing a merger. 

Frustration has bubbled away in recent months over moves to combined the roles of top officials of North Tees and South Tees.

Professor Bell arrived as joint chairman of both North Tees and South Tees trust boards in September.

Subsequent moves to merge the chief executive leadership of both trusts sparked concerns in November – with Mr Cunningham fearing it was a “slippery slope” towards the two becoming one.  

Now national NHS officials have revealed an investigation has been launched into the governance and leadership of the North Tees and Hartlepool trust. 

And Mr Cunningham has called on Professor Bell to go. 

The Labour MP said: “Losing four out of five non-executive directors over plans for a joint chief executive of both North and South Tees trusts is a huge blow to Professor Bell’s authority as chairman and in my view, makes his position untenable. 

“He should resign or be removed.

“I’ve been very vocal in my opposition to a joint CEO both publicly and in conversation with Professor Bell.

“It is clear from these resignations that there is no confidence in his proposals from those people who have served the trust and our community diligently for many years. 

“It’s time to take a step back from this ill-conceived proposal.”

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Mr Cunningham fears health services would be moved south of the river under a trust merger – sharing worries officials have been told to “get on with it” from on high. 

South Tees was found to require improvement in July 2019 after a visit by the Care Quality Commission – with the watchdog set to return this year. 

It has also faced a tough financial time – still lumbered by a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal for James Cook Hospital now growing beyond more than £1m a week. 

Neighbouring North Tees and Hartlepool was rated “good” trust by the CQC in its latest 2018 inspection.

Mr Cunningham said North Tees was a successful trust and accused Prof Bell’s approach of “driving a wedge between North and South Tees”.

He also wanted assurances North Tees and Hartlepool hospitals wouldn’t be downgraded. 

Five out of the six non-executives at the trust have resigned their posts. 

Former non-executive Rita Taylor said she’d expressed concerns for some time about “a lack of governance” from Professor Bell.   

She added: “I expressed to him as early as November that I had no trust and confidence in him at that point in time because of his determination to move towards a joint chief executive for the two trusts.”

Ms Taylor also claimed she and other non-executives were “browbeaten” by Professor Bell and NHSEI (NHS England and NHS Improvement) to “get on with the joint chief executive” as a prelude to a merger.

She also shared worries about the impact on trust staff. 

Ms Taylor added: “We’re not in the right place for that. South Tees is not in the right place for that.

“They need to improve to a much greater degree before we could even consider that.”

A possible merger has also ruffled feathers at councils north of the river.

Stockton Council leader Cllr Bob Cook was concerned.

He added: “While not wishing to jump to any conclusions, I’ve made it very clear that our priority is to represent our residents. 

“That has not changed. We will stand up for them and oppose anything we feel may have a detrimental effect on the health services they rely on.”

The Labour chief called for “full transparency” on any proposals to merge senior trust roles.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool Council leader Cllr Shane Moore echoed Mr Cunningham’s calls for Professor Bell to step down. 

He added: “Sadly there is one common denominator here. 

“It’s really disappointing to see non-executive directors forced into a position where they feel they have no other opportunity but to resign.

“All of the current signs and problems seem to point towards one common denominator. 

“I’ve asked if this person should consider their position – I think now is the time where consideration is passed and this person needs to go.”

Stockton South MP Matt Vickers was also very concerned.

The Conservative MP added: “I will be looking to schedule a meeting with the chief executive of the trust as soon as possible to see how we can resolve this matter quickly and in the best interests of residents.”

A spokesperson for NHS Improvement said: “We can confirm that five non-executive directors at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have tendered their resignations.

“A formal investigation is taking place into governance and leadership at the trust and no further comment would be appropriate at this time.”

A trust spokesperson added: “North Tees and Hartlepool Trust can confirm that a number of non-executive directors have tendered their resignations.

“This is an internal governance and administrative issue and has no impact upon patient care.”

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