A REVIEW could be conducted into the trust which runs Fairfield Hospital following last month's vote of no-confidence by senior doctors.

The Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is proposing to send in a team headed by former president of the Royal College of Physicians, Sir George Alberti, to carry out a review identifying the issues of concern within the Pennine Acute NHS Trust which led to more than 200 senior medics voting in favour of a no-confidence motion.

Up to 300 doctors from across the trusts five hospitals, including 80 from Fairfield, were balloted for a motion which stated the trust board had failed to behave in an open and trustworthy manner and establish an effective communication system.

Neil Goodwin, chief executive of the SHA, said: "The SHA has proposed that Sir George Alberti and an experienced organisation development consultant, Joan Durose, will review issues within the trust.

"The consultants' Joint Negotiating Committee is meeting to discuss the proposal. Until then, nothing can be confirmed, but it is our belief that relationships within the trust can be repaired if there is goodwill on all sides."

Pete Hinchliffe, secretary to the central shops stewards committee, said the union would co-operate fully with a review. He said: "We have always expressed our willingness to talk. We need to ensure that our patients are looked after by staff whose morale is high, who feel involved in the decision-making and who don't feel threatened or intimidated at work.

"We need to maintain a careful balance between hitting government targets, balancing the books and making Pennine an organisation that staff enjoy working within in order to ensure that our patients get the best possible care."