Health and Community Services new chair leaves with 'immediate effect'

The new chair of the Health and Community Services Advisory Board has left the post with 'immediate effect', after just being appointed at the end of February.

Another non-executive director will chair the board, on an interim basis, while a new person is found for the role.

Health Minister Tom Binet says he and Tom Hayhoe have 'differences in working styles'.

"Tom Hayhoe and I have announced that he will not be continuing as Chair of the HCS Advisory Board.

"We have mutually agreed this course of action given acknowledged differences in working styles.

"Tom Hayhoe will vacate the post with immediate effect and one of the other non-executive directors will chair the Board meetings on an interim basis."

In late February, the Health Minister said he was 'pleased' with the appointment of Mr Hayhoe as he is 'highly experienced' and has 'exceptional knowledge' of health service delivery.

Tom Hayhoe has previously worked as a non-executive director for the HCS Advisory Board and as chairman of the West London and West Middlesex University NHS Trust.

Online adverts for the vacancy were offering an annual salary of £70,000 for the three-day-a-week position.

Whereas the board's last boss, Professor Hugo Macie Taylor's, £250,000 interim contract caused Constable Andy Jehan to leave the last government.

His three-day-a-week contract was described as an 'indefensible misuse of taxpayers money'.