11:00am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Lucy Pearce
ANGRY governors have warned they won’t be gagged from speaking out about Dorset County Hospital.
They hit out in a heated debate about speaking to the media at a governors’ meeting yesterday afternoon.
Governor Pete Coghlan said governors should hold back from speaking to the press under the hospital’s code of conduct.
The Trust’s current code of conduct states that if the media approaches a governor they should contact the Trust’s corporate business manager or the communication manager in the first instance.
Mr Coghlan said: “When we were going through the major financial difficulties last year, the number of connections to the media resulted in graphic headlines. We were being run by the media.
“Even recently we have had staff taking part in interviews but I suggest that is stopped.”
Some governors disagreed and refused to be bound by restrictions.
Michel Hooper-Immins said: “It’s interesting that this morning we attained a new level of openness with the first public open board meeting.
“Now comes this unwise move to gag governors, to stop us talking to the media. This is a principle that runs completely against the recent moves to introduce transparency”
He added: “Any restriction of governors talking to the media or the public is forbidden by Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1999, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.”
Governor Derek Julian added: “This is an attempt to gag and you will not do that to me.
“I will carry on as I have been carrying on for many years.”
Another governor, Andy Hutchings, said: “I was concerned when I saw this on the agenda. We have to be trusted.”
However, Bill Mitchell was one of the governors who said he disagreed that the code of conduct was acting as a gagging order.
Chairman Jeffrey Ellwood said: “There’s nothing to stop members of the council talking to the press.
“The code of conduct asks if you would please check your facts with the hospital before you do so.”
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