Boss who 'saved hospital money' faces cash probe
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• by Charles Young A transport boss for an NHS trust who boasted to Commercial Motor how he was saving his hospital money is fighting to clear his name after it was alleged he transferred funds into a separate account.
Dumfries and Galloway Primary Care NHS Trust has sacked deputy transport manager David Marchbank after an employee suggested alleged financial irregularities involving Marchbank and his boss, David Whitaker.
Whitaker is on sick leave but is expected to face disciplinary
hearings on his return. Both deny allegations that they diverted sponsorship money into separate accountsMarchbank plans to appeal against his dismissal.
Whitaker says this money is 'all above board'' and was in an account in the transport department's name. The money was to be used to fund a driver-of-theyear scheme which, he says. was set to benefit the trust. He maintains he is entirely innocent of the charges and hopes both men will be vindicated when the true picture emerges.
The pair also face allega tions that money gained from the trust's truck rental outfit was diverted to the department's accounts.
A spokesman for the trust confirms that an inquiry is under way.
In November 1997 David Whitaker was the subject of a CM profile. In it he described moves to reduce costs for the NHS, such as fitting air-management kits to the trucks and switching to contract hire.
Whitaker concluded by bemoaning the lack of financial resources in the NHS: We are being bled almost dry," he said.