SIR DAVID HENSHAW was made the region's health chief on the backing of as few as seven local health officials - despite the protests of up to 25 MPs.
SIR DAVID HENSHAW was made the region's health chief on the backing of as few as seven local health officials - despite the protests of up to 25 MPs.
A last-minute ring-round of leading NHS trust board members was carried out after the MPs tried to block the appointment of the former Liverpool City Council chief executive.
The "due diligence" check found no opposition among the board members - allowing Sir David to become chairman of the new North West strategic health authority (SHA).
Last night, the consultation process was condemned as a farce by George Howarth, MP for Knowsley North and Sefton East, who was passed the details in a leaked Whitehall document.
The local officials who backed Sir David would all now depend on him to stay in their jobs, the Labour backbencher complained.
Now Mr Howarth has written to Sir William Wells, the chairman of the NHS appointments commision, to condemn the "breathtaking arrogance" of the appointment.
The MP said: "The important thing is that the trust board members will be dependent on Sir David for the renewal of their jobs.
"The consultation was unbalanced, because the views of MPs in the region - who are all elected - were over-ridden by the views of people who will owe their continued employment to him."
A commission spokeswoman said Sir David Henshaw was picked after a "national recruitment campaign".
She added: "Once politicians raised concerns about the appointment, the commission undertook a due diligence check on Sir David's record and found no reason to overturn the appointment."
It emerged this week that no fewer than 23 North West MPs signed a round-robin letter urging the appointments commission not to appoint Sir David.
Several ministers - thought to include new party chairman Hazel Blears, Northern Ireland minister Maria Eagle (Garston) and whip Dave Watts (St Helens North) - also joined the protest.
However, they were forced to withdraw their signatures after being informed they would technically be acting illegally, because the appointment is independent of government.
Plea for Commission to backtrack on appointment >>>>>>>>>
Plea for Commission to backtrack on appointment
THE letter to Sir William Wells:
Dear Sir William, We are writing to express our serious concerns about your Commission's decision to appoint Sir David Henshaw as Chairman of the new North West Strategic Health Authority.
We would find it extremely difficult to have to work with Sir David, particularly at a time when a number of sensitive decisions are pending as regards both acute and primary services.
We are sure you will be aware the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection have both on several occasions - and as recently as the last 12 months - found Liverpool City Council social care services to have fallen well below the required standards, particularly as regards services for the elderly.
Given that Sir David was the Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council before and during that period, we believe this raises serious questions about his suitability for this position.
We hope you will take due note of our concerns and reconsider this appointment.
A last-minute ring-round of leading NHS trust board members was carried out after the MPs tried to block the appointment of the former Liverpool City Council chief executive.
The "due diligence" check found no opposition among the board members - allowing Sir David to become chairman of the new North West strategic health authority (SHA).
Last night, the consultation process was condemned as a farce by George Howarth, MP for Knowsley North and Sefton East, who was passed the details in a leaked Whitehall document.
The local officials who backed Sir David would all now depend on him to stay in their jobs, the Labour backbencher complained.
Now Mr Howarth has written to Sir William Wells, the chairman of the NHS appointments commision, to condemn the "breathtaking arrogance" of the appointment.
The MP said: "The important thing is that the trust board members will be dependent on Sir David for the renewal of their jobs.
"The consultation was unbalanced, because the views of MPs in the region - who are all elected - were over-ridden by the views of people who will owe their continued employment to him."
A commission spokeswoman said Sir David Henshaw was picked after a "national recruitment campaign".
She added: "Once politicians raised concerns about the appointment, the commission undertook a due diligence check on Sir David's record and found no reason to overturn the appointment."
It emerged this week that no fewer than 23 North West MPs signed a round-robin letter urging the appointments commission not to appoint Sir David.
Several ministers - thought to include new party chairman Hazel Blears, Northern Ireland minister Maria Eagle (Garston) and whip Dave Watts (St Helens North) - also joined the protest.
However, they were forced to withdraw their signatures after being informed they would technically be acting illegally, because the appointment is independent of government.
Plea for Commission to backtrack on appointment >>>>>>>>>
Plea for Commission to backtrack on appointment
THE letter to Sir William Wells:
Dear Sir William, We are writing to express our serious concerns about your Commission's decision to appoint Sir David Henshaw as Chairman of the new North West Strategic Health Authority.
We would find it extremely difficult to have to work with Sir David, particularly at a time when a number of sensitive decisions are pending as regards both acute and primary services.
We are sure you will be aware the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection have both on several occasions - and as recently as the last 12 months - found Liverpool City Council social care services to have fallen well below the required standards, particularly as regards services for the elderly.
Given that Sir David was the Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council before and during that period, we believe this raises serious questions about his suitability for this position.
We hope you will take due note of our concerns and reconsider this appointment.