THE interim chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) has resigned just two days after being appointed.
Mike Higgins was appointed following the shock resignation of former chairman Martin Watts who left his post last week after a complaint about his conduct.
RCHT spokesperson said today: "We can confirm that Mike Higgins has decided to resign as interim Chairman of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.
"Clearly, this is disappointing but we continue to work with the NHS Trust Development Authority on both the interim arrangements and the permanent appointment of a new Chairman of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.
"We are committed to ensuring that all our staff feel able to raise any concerns they have, with the assurance that those concerns will be dealt with appropriately.
"We will not be distracted from our duties of continuing to provide excellent patient care."
NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) spokesperson added: "We are actively working to ensure that Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has the leadership it needs as quickly as possible. It is crucial that we get the right person to chair the trust to ensure that it continues both to provide excellent health care services for the local community and to work towards achieving Foundation Trust status."
A RCHT board meeting, which was due to start at 2.30pm this afternoon was cancelled just minutes before it was due to start.
The local media, including the West Briton, were intending to attend the meeting following the recent resignation of Mr Watts.
Yesterday Mr Watts told the BBC he had hoped that the "right questions will be asked" at the meeting and "clear and honest answers are given".
He further told the broadcaster: "That being the case I think it could well avoid me having to follow the legal route which I don't wish to do."
The meeting of the RCHT board was due to take place at the Knowledge Spa this afternoon between 2.30pm and 5pm.
A new board meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 25.
