The chief executive of Central Scotland Healthcare trust has been suspended on full pay pending an independent inquiry into allegations of overpayments to a small group of senior managers.

Derek Pollacchi was suspended in the light of 'areas of concern' raised by reports from the Forth Valley internal audit service. The trust has also sent a dossier to the procurator fiscal.

The independent committee of inquiry will assess whether overpayments were made and whether there are grounds to invoke the trust's disciplinary procedure. It will also have the power to make broader recommendations.

The inquiry team will be led by Hilary Grieve, a solicitor and chair of Dumfries and Galloway trust.

Trust chair John Rafferty said: 'The central focus of this inquiry is the circumstances surrounding the salary of the chief executive. An ancillary matter to be examined is the process through which the salary levels of a small number of senior managers was determined.'