Staff asked to stay at home as Scarborough accounts come under investigation

Scarborough and North Yorkshire Healthcare trust chief executive Alison Guy and director of finance Bernard Flynn have been asked to stay at home while the trust board and the local strategic health authority scrutinise accounting procedures.

While there is no evidence of impropriety by either Ms Guy or Mr Flynn, it is understood that they will be asked to stay away for at least a month to ensure that the incoming chief executive receives an independent assessment of how the trust is running and working, according to chair Richard Grunwell.

Mr Grunwell added: ?The review is not focused on issues of patient safety or the quality of care and there is no evidence of impropriety on the part of any officer.?

The trust will be run by new temporary chief executive Mike Potts, chief executive of Doncaster West primary care trust, for the duration of the investigation.

He told staff: ?I have been asked to work with the trust in leading a review of governance arrangements within the organisation. I understand that this will be an unsettling time, and as well as leading the review I am also here to support the organisation and staff maintaining the high standards of service and clinical care which you provide.?

The probe follows concerns raised by the Audit Commission about governance arrangements in the trust following a routine end-of-year audit. Last year district auditor Mark Kirkham released a report criticising the trust?s accounting procedures which reported financial balance ?in full knowledge that the accounts would not be acceptable for audit?. ?In my opinion the desire to present a small surplus compromised the integrity of the production of accurate annual accounts.?