A top NHS executive who earned £175,000 a year has resigned and retired :

John-Archer
John-Archer
£175k Pennine Care NHS boss quits before probe into him is completed

17 Jun 2013

By: Dan Thompson

John Archer, the chief executive of Pennine Care mental health trust, was absent from work for five months while the probe was carried out and quit before it concluded.

A top NHS executive who earned £175,000 a year has resigned and retired during an investigation into ‘concerns’ involving him.

John Archer, the chief executive of Pennine Care mental health trust, was absent from work for five months while the probe was carried out and quit before it concluded.

Trust officials refused to confirm what the concerns were or what the outcome of the investigation was – but said he ‘received no additional payments or notice pay upon resignation’.

Mr. Archer, a former government health adviser, had been in post for 11 years before standing down.

A Pennine Care spokeswoman said: “The trust investigated concerns which involved Mr. Archer. The details of the investigation are confidential. An independent investigation, in line with NHS guidelines, commenced in November 2012 and concluded in May 2013. Mr. Archer was absent from work from November 2012 to April 2013 when he resigned.

“Mr. Archer decided to resign his position and to retire. That decision is a personal matter. However, Mr. Archer received no additional payments or notice pay upon resignation. The trust would like to reassure that this matter is of no detriment to the safety of services or quality of care provided to patients.”

Mr. Archer lived in a large detached house in leafy Dobcross, Oldham, before separating from his wife Patricia in recent years. It is thought he now lives in Manchester but he could not be reached for a comment.

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk is campaigning for a change in the law to prevent public officials from leaving office whilst under investigation.

Mr. Danczuk said: “I met with the acting chief executive of Pennine Care Trust and senior directors some weeks ago to try and shed some light on this. But they refused to give me any explanation as to why John Archer left so suddenly. I think it’s right and proper that the public know the reasons for Archer’s departure and I hope the investigation they carried out will report publicly and not be buried in a filing cabinet.”

According to Pennine Care’s website, Mr. Archer had a long career in the NHS and was made chief executive at the trust – which provides mental health services across large parts of Greater Manchester to the north, east and south in 2002.

It expanded to become a specialist mental health and community trust in 2011 following the transfer of services from Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. In April, the management of community healthcare services in Trafford also transferred to the trust.

According to the trust’s website, in 2011/12 Mr. Archer earned between £175,000 and £185,000 and in 2010/11 he earned £130,000 to £135,000. It does not list his earnings for last year.

John Schofield, chairman of Pennine Care, said: “Under John’s leadership the trust has expanded its income from £55m to £260m and now employ in excess of 6,000 staff.

“The board recognises John’s commitment and contribution to the trust.”

Martin Roe, deputy chief executive and director of finance, has been made acting chief executive.

Credit: Manchester Evening News

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