A NEW policy to protect NHS 'whistle blowers' has been introduced - one month too late for three sacked non-executive directors at the NHS Guild Community Healthcare Trust.

The trio were dismissed earlier this year for blowing the whistle on 'mismanagement at the highest level' by health secretary Frank Dobson. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has welcomed the Announcement by Trade and Industry secretary Stephen Byers but said it flies in the face of hypocrisy.

He continued: "Someone needs to bang Stephen Byers' and Frank Dobson's heads together because they are clearly on different wavelengths."

Mr Dobson explained that he praised the non-executive's for their help in highlighting management problems, but they were sacked because he wanted a fresh start at the Trust.

Mr Evans continued: "What a farce! If the government is concerned about protecting whistle-blowers then they should reinstate the non-execs or compensate them at the very least.

"I have written to Frank Dobson asking them to do this - surely when he sacked them he had some inkling that Mr Byers was ready to announce this new policy."

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