A hospital trust insists it followed all rules in hiring the CEO’s partner as a consultant, despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Dr. Cornelle Parker was brought on board to help the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. She’s in a relationship with CEO Stacey Hunter, who oversees both North Tees and South Tees trusts.
The trust claims the appointment followed all governance processes. They also stated that Hunter didn’t take part in the hiring decision. Some folks raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, especially since there wasn’t a competitive selection process.
In response to questions, the trust explained that they needed extra help quickly. They used a “single action waiver” to speed things up. A spokesperson clarified that the group managing director led the hiring process, not Hunter.
Dr. Parker has a solid background in medicine and has worked with various NHS organizations. She previously served as deputy medical director at another trust and has experience in diabetes and endocrinology.
The trust didn’t disclose how much Dr. Parker is being paid or if she’s still on board. Earlier this year, the North and South Tees trusts formed a partnership to work more closely together, but they’re not merging.
Together, they manage a budget of around £1.2 billion and employ over 15,000 staff. Hunter, a former NHS nurse, earns up to £200,000 a year and has a strong track record in healthcare leadership.
