THE Dorset Echo report on the state of Dorset County Hospital raises a number of questions which urgently need to be addressed.

Firstly, as a NHS Foundation Trust, the board of directors includes half a dozen or so ‘independent board members’ who are paid a salary and are presumably appointed to act as a balance to the executive board members.

Additionally, there is a council of governors who are elected from among members of the trust. How was the present situation reached without any evident input from either of these bodies?

Secondly, why did the chairman and chief executive both resign simultaneously last year, following the departure of the finance director some months beforehand?

Thirdly, who made and approved the decision to appoint Derek Smith (and three other senior executives) at an exorbitant salary from a consultancy of which he is the chief executive?

Fourthly, how did the HR director allow a situation to develop whereby the trust now apparently sees the need to dispense with some 200 front-line workers, and how many non-clinical administrators and managers remain in post?

Fifthly, how has the money been spent? For example, how much has been spent on the acquisition of land and property development?

How much on administration and how much on ‘golden goodbyes’ for departing senior executives?

Finally, who decided that it was necessary to engage two of the most expensive accountancy firms in the world to sort out the mess left by the internal bean counters?

I believe the present situation calls for the publication of the Trust accounts, for a public enquiry and for the resignation of those who were tasked with the orderly running of the Trust.

ANTHONY HOLT Damers Road Dorchester