NHS fatcat quits job in disgrace… and then lands ANOTHER £240,000-a-year job at same trust
An inquest found neglect contributed to death of patient Connor Sparrowhawk
AN NHS fatcat whose trust failed to probe the unexpected deaths of hundreds of patients finally quit.
Yet incredibly chief exec Katrina Percy, 43, has landed another job with the same organisation on the same £240,000 pay package.
And despite being blasted for a “failure of leadership” she blamed the media for her downfall.
A review of her mental health trust was sparked by the death of Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, at a care home near Oxford.
An inquest found neglect contributed to his drowning after an epileptic seizure.
An NHS England report later found that of 722 unexpected deaths, only 272 were properly dealt with.
The Care Quality Commission said in April the trust was still failing to protect patients from the risk of harm.
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The watchdog said arrangements to probe incidents had not been put in place.
Ms Percy, whose new role is as a strategic adviser for GPs, refused widespread calls to quit.
She said yesterday media attention had “made my role untenable.”
Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “Under her watch, patients and families were fatally let down by a rotten culture.”
Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, said: “The CEO and board presided over dangerous systems and practices that cost lives.
Despite repeated warnings there was a failure to act.
“This resignation is not an acceptance of responsibility for systemic failings.”
Southern Health trust looks after 45,000 people across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.
Last month it was revealed the trust had paid almost £6million to companies owned by two of Ms Percy’s former associates for “consultancy” work.