Sir Leonard Fenwick, who has led the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for 40 years, has been placed on “extended leave from his duties” while an independent investigation is carried out Tom White /PAThe longest-serving NHS chief executive has been suspended over “very serious” allegations, but claims that he was pushed out after he exposed a hospital sex ring have been denied. Sir Leonard Fenwick, 69, who has led the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for 40 years, has been placed on “extended leave from his duties” while an independent investigation is carried out, his employers confirmed yesterday. The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust had declined to comment about why Sir Leonard had not been at work since January. But it criticised “unfounded speculation” after a report that he had exposed a ring of consultants who “shared” female staff for sex on hospital premises. The Daily Telegraph claimed that he was pushed out after other directors decided that…

Source: The Times March 10, 2017 00:03 UTC