Appointment Of Chairman Of The Macclesfield Health Authority

EDM number 1019 in 1992-93, proposed by Nicholas Winterton on 08/12/1992.

That this House notes with concern the appointment of Mr Simon Cussons as Chairman of Macclesfield Health Authority; notes that he has little connection with Macclesfield, that he has no knowledge of the working of the Macclesfield Health Authority, and that he does not live within its boundaries; expresses its deep concern that Mr Cussons having been appointed as Chairman immediately insisted on removing the existing Chairman of the Appointments Panel, Mrs Morven Sowerbutts, and proceeded to appoint Mrs Chris Hannah as District General Manager of both the Macclesfield and the Crewe Health Authorities despite the fact that officially no steps were being taken to merge the two authorities; notes the acceptance by the Secretary of State in a letter to the honourable Member for Macclesfield that Mrs Sowerbutts has given excellent service to the NHS and deserved to be treated better, and that the appointment process which led to the appointment of Mrs Chris Hannah by the Panel chaired by Mr Cussons was handled in a way which had the appearance of not being fair; believes that the events described call into question the whole of the National Health Service appointments system; and deeply regrets the Secretary of State's refusal to review the situation and her denial to the people of Macclesfield of the opportunity to be served by a Chairman who has the necessary calibre, knowledge and experience.

This motion has been signed by a total of 19 MPs.