UPDATE: The RCHT has just confirmed that Sir Roger Boyle and Sue Hall have resigned.
Sir Roger, an associate non-executive director, told the BBC he was leaving the board because "relationships between executive and non-executive functions have now been damaged beyond repair in this particular organisation".
Ms Hall told the broadcaster she was leaving with "extreme sadness" because she could "no longer fulfil the essential oversight and assurance role" as an independently appointed non-executive.
THE INTERIM chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) who quit the job yesterday after just two days in the post has blamed chief executive Lezli Boswell and certain members of her executive team for his shock resignation.
Mike Higgins said there was a "clear divide" between the executive team and the rest of the board over the process and detailed timeline related to the complaints about previous chairman Martin Watts' conduct.
He has also called for Mr Watts' immediate reinstatement as the chairman of the Trust with a detailed report into the events that led to his resignation to be made available.
Mr Watts stepped down on Wednesday last week following two upheld complaints about his behaviour.
RCHT has "strongly refuted" the assertions by Mr Higgins in relation to provision of information to the non-executive directors and said he was given a full briefing with timeliness and actions.
Today Mr Higgins said the chief executive of the NHS Trust Development Authority, David Flory, who told Watts' his position was no longer tenable, should apologise and reinstate Mr Watts immediately.
He said: "There was substantial resistance to get a detailed timeline and information related to the alleged incidents and to the time leading to his (Watts) departure.
"We want to know when those incidents happened, were they reported to their line managers and was Mr Watts given an opportunity to talk to these people and put his side of the story across? We have none of that information or reports.
"The only discussion I had with the chief executive was one phone call that lasted five minutes informing me that there had been an incident and Martin had been involved.
"Now the executive team believes this is a witch hunt and an attempt to put the blame on the executive. That is not the case. We just want to know the process was fair to everybody and that the decision was made based on sound evidence.
"If I was David Flory I would reinstate him (Watts) immediately and get a detailed report into what led up to this.
"The question is, where this hospital goes in the future? Is it going to continue the improvements according to the strategy put together by Mr Watts or is it staying where it is.
"The best way forward is to say 'we made a mistake', we acted hastily and apologise to Martin.
"I would not be surprised if there were more resignations."
Mr Higgins further said he agreed to act as interim until a new chair was in position to provide some degree of stability and continuity but that he did this with considerable reservations.
But he said following the extra-ordinary board meeting on Monday, which he chaired to brief the board on his appointment, he was convinced that it would be impossible for him to carry out his responsibilities as interim chairman.
He continued: "In particular, I found it impossible to balance my support for Martin Watts with the urgent need to maintain a united board.
"The non-executive board members want to understand the process and detailed timeline related to the complaints and ultimate resignation of the previous chairman as well as being provided with the details of the investigation reports.
"While this was agreed to, there was strong resistance from the executive team to provide full disclosure of the timeline of events as, I believe, they viewed it as a challenge to certain members of the executive team including the chief executive (Lezli Boswell).
"At this point, I was of the opinion there was a clear divide between the executive and the majority of non-executive board members which I believed made my position untenable and so I decided on Wednesday morning that the best course of action for the Trust was for me to resign with immediate effect."
Following the claims a spokesman for the Trust said there was an agreement to provide the information the board had requested at its meeting on Monday.
He also said Mr Higgins had previously been given a full briefing with timelines and actions in his capacity as a senior independent director for the Trust.
A statement from the Trust said: "In protecting our staff in matters such as this we are bound by confidentiality, however we look forward to the opportunity to speak openly, fully and with candour about the events of bullying in response to any proposed legal action by former chairman Martin Watts.
"In the meantime our priority has been and will always remain the provision of high quality care for patients along with the well-being of staff, specifically addressing bullying and harassment."
