THE DEPUTY chair of a clinical commissioning group is calling for an NHS enquiry into its running, citing concerns over senior salaries and staff morale.

David Williams, deputy chair of Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) resigned from his role as chair of its finance committee in January, saying developments over the previous few months at the CCG meant he could not remain in the role and uphold the ethical standards of public office.

Since resigning the post he met with two senior members of the CCG to discuss his decision, where he expressed his concerns about “cultural and leadership” issues, staff morale and “decisions on salary matters”.

He said he was particularly concerned about the fairness of senior managers’ salaries, compared to the one per cent salary awarded nationally to NHS staff.

“We had a very frank exchange of views and disagreed on a number of important issues,” he said in a statement.

“For my part I commended the work of some very dedicated CCG staff in a very demanding NHS environment. Speaking up for patients and the public is the most critical element of my role.

“At the end of the meeting, and over the past months, I have not been assured about the matters I had raised, especially in relation to certain cultural and leadership issues, personal concerns raised by senior staff, staff morale survey data, and decisions on salary matters.

“I explained again that my resignation was on the basis that decisions I was being asked to take were in my view not conforming to the principles of Nolan. I was particularly exercised in terms of fairness in relation to decisions on our CCG senior manager salaries, when NHS staff (including our CCG staff) have been limited to one per cent annual increases.”

Mr Williams said the issues have still not been addressed and he has now written to Moira Dumma, the director of commissioning operations for Yorkshire and the Humber, calling for a formal independent enquiry into the issues.

Mr Williams is also a governor at South Tees NHS Hospitals Trust and was brought in as non-executive director of Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust following one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the NHS, when it emerged thousands of patients had died unnecessarily at Stafford Hospital.

The CCG is responsible for the planning and purchasing of the vast majority of health services across the area - this includes hospital care, mental health and community services. It is responsible for 22 GP practices.

Dr Charles Parker, clinical chair of the CCG, said the governing body had been “surprised and disappointed” to learn of David William’s resignation as chair of the remuneration committee.

He stated: “The CCG has taken David’s resignation as Chair of the Remuneration Committee into consideration and is taking necessary action to ensure we meet our statutory duties.

“The Governing Body has arranged to discuss David’s concerns over the “Nolan Principles” at a future meeting to seek a view from the whole body.

"With regards to more recent queries around “senior staff salary”, the Governing Body and Remuneration Committee are fully aware of the process followed by the CCG to recruit senior and interim posts which was in line with employment law. Details of senior staff salaries are published in the CCG’s annual report at the end of each financial year. This is then made available on the CCG’s website.

“The body is also aware that the CCG has been through a period of change. In addition to national uncertainty and significant financial pressures, we are proactively working with our teams to strengthen morale, leadership and culture throughout the organisation. We have recently received results of our staff survey and are sharing these at an upcoming full team meeting to look collectively at how we can improve.”