WORRIED Royal Bournemouth Hospital governors are calling an “extraordinary meeting” over the Basil Fozard scandal.

The trust has been under mounting pressure since revelations that it reappointed the medical director on a bumper £152,000 salary - £20,000 more than he was being paid previously for the same role – just one month after he "retired" and began drawing from his £1.9million NHS pension.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the decision was a calculated one, with the trust publishing the details on page 159 of its annual report - just days before health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the loophole allowing the trick would be closed.

Mr Fozard, who will no longer see patients, was also entitled to a lump sum worth up to £325,000.

The Department of Health contacted the trust demanding answers and branded the decision “completely unacceptable”. MP for Bournemouth West Conor Burns described it as “morally wrong” and Christchurch MP Chris Chope said the hospital needed to “come clean”.

And yesterday, in a brief email responding to questions posed by Cllr Philip Eades, who represents Branksome West at Borough of Poole, the governors said: “Recognising the concerns of the membership and public, the governors have asked for an Extraordinary Council of Governors meeting to be held as soon as possible.”

They added that the governors were not aware of the decision to reappoint Mr Fozard until July 24 - 23 days after he had started working again.

Cllr Eades said the trust’s chairman, Jane Stichbury, has “serious questions to answer” and must have “chosen not to tell any of the governors”.

“She appears to have known all about this deal and to have gone along with it,” he said.

“The whole thing just doesn’t smell right. This is not a private business; this is public money and a public service.

“The governors were elected by the local constituents to provide an oversight for what is happening at the hospital. They are elected by the people and they need to tell us what has happened.

“There needs to be an independent investigation conducted by people from outside the trust as clearly the governors are not going to do it.”

When the Echo asked the hospital for its response to Cllr Eades’ comments, a spokesman said there was “no story” as the Department of Health and watchdog Monitor had deemed its actions to be “legally above board”.