§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will reconsider his decision to accept the210W early resignation of Mr. Harold Musgrove from the chairmanship of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust; and if he will make a statement;[10155]
(2) what discussions his Department had with Mr. Harold Musgrove about the announcement of his resignation from the chairmanship of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust prior to that announcement; what the nature of any such discussion was; and if he will make a statement.[10156]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 25 October 2001]: The acceptance of Mr. Musgrove's resignation is a matter for the national health service Appointments Commission, which now has responsibility for appointments to NHS boards. Mr. Musgrove contacted the NHS Regional Director for the West Midlands to inform him of his decision to resign. His formal letter of resignation was submitted to the chair of the NHS Appointments Commission on 1 October. He subsequently had discussions with the Appointments Commissioner for the West Midlands about the timing of his departure, which was mutually agreed as 31 December 2001, allowing sufficient time for recruitment of his successor.