TWO governors have resigned from their posts at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust because of what one has termed their frustration over a ‘false’ role.

Bob Bryant and David King both handed in their resignations on Monday after months of arguments between the governors’ council and the hospital’s executive board.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Norton South, Halton Brook and Halton Lea governor Clr Bob Bryant told the Runcorn and Widnes World he was elected as a ‘governor of something I am not allowed to govern’.

Clr Bryant, who serves on Halton Borough Council, said that anger over the way the hospital’s executive board treated plans to charge visitors for the free shuttle bus between the two hospital sites was behind his resignation.

“Statements were made by certain people that Halton residents were misusing the bus,” he said.

“Charges were made and allegations were made without any foundation whatsoever.”

At a governors’ meeting in July Clr Bryant challenged the allegations that residents were using the free bus to go shopping, but his opposition was not noted in the minutes, he said.

“I felt that decisions were being made before they came to us and we were there just to ratify them,” he added.

In his resignation letter to the hospital’s chairman Allan Massey, he said: “I was elected to represent the members of the public and voice their issues but found that decisions are made without consultation with governors. In effect, they have no voice or authority to make suggestions.”

Clr Bryant also criticised the new entrance at Halton Hospital – built at a cost of nearly £250,000 – which is not suitable for disabled people.

A wheelchair user himself, he had told management that the entrance was not suitable but said at this year’s annual meeting that his concerns were ignore and that changed have still not been made.

He had also objected to a pay rise for Mr Massey that doubled his salary from £21,000 to £42,000.

A spokesman for the hospitals thanked the men for their work as governers, adding: “We have a group of dedicated governors with a real interest in improving services who are making excellent progress in developing these new roles and representing local people. That role will continue to develop in the future.

“This does give the opportunity for other residents with an interest and commitment to the hospitals and health services in these vacant areas to come forward and stand as governors. “The hospitals will be asking for nominations and holding elections over the coming weeks.”