War of words at the NHS trust

Published: 16 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

THE chairman of Camden’s mental health service has dismissed his critics as a bunch of “quasi professional protesters”.

Richard Arthur, was responding to complaints made to the quango Monitor – which regulates the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust – of “intimidation” in governors’ board meetings.

Monitor officials wrote to Mr Arthur and chief executive Wendy Wallace asking the pair to “sort out their issues”.

But, in a statement published in board documents by the Trust, Mr Arthur said the complaints had only caused concern with some “junior officials”.

The former leader of Camden Council blamed “combative and council-style meetings” that he said had become “dominated by a limited number of individuals which seemed to achieve little”.

The appraisal includes unnamed governors’ comments revealing their “considerable unhappiness” at a “board atmosphere, not open and friendly”.

The Trust’s appraisal of Mr Arthur – broadly positive and rating him as 3.5 out of five overall – recommends a “softer leadership style” and “more listening, greater awareness of personal impact (eg intimidation)”.

Mr Arthur said he had made “sound progress” since his arrival in 2008, adding: “I respect all views and regret any perception to the contrary. I will try to ensure that people feel positively engaged.”  

He replaced Professor David Taylor, who quit after telling governors to “shut up” in a public meeting.