A FORMER Warrington Hospital director has been referred to the healthcare watchdog after he resigned amidst an investigation into his conduct over the avoidable deaths of 11 babies and one mum.

Roger Wilson stepped down from his post as director of human resources and organisation developer at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in May, having earlier been suspended from the role pending an investigation.

In the same role at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust found that Mr Wilson had agreed an ‘irregular’ pay-off for a senior midwife at the centre of the avoidable deaths of 11 babies and one mum.

Jeanette Parkinson was ‘significantly’ overpaid in a deal that allowed her to leave her job as maternity risk manager without an investigation, being given 14 months’ redundancy pay when she was only entitled to one month.

Mr Wilson resigned on Thursday, May 4 – a week before a Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust disciplinary hearing.

Despite Mr Wilson’s ‘concerns and objections’, the hearing went ahead in his absence and the trust has subsequently referred its findings to the Care Quality Commission with concerns over him being a ‘fit and proper person’.

A spokesman for Warrington Hospital said: “In releasing the information, the trust has considered Mr Wilson’s wish that it be withheld from the public domain.

“Acting in an open and transparent manner, and having applied the public interest test, the trust considers that the public interest is better served by disclosure.

“The trust referred the findings of the investigation and panel decision to the CQC under the fit and proper persons regulation, where those in public office with director-level responsibility for the quality and safety of care and for meeting the fundamental standards are fit and proper to carry out this role.

“We await the outcome of the CQC’s deliberations.”