THE leaders of Colchester’s hospital trust have been accused of not doing enough to support their staff.

Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell voiced his opinion at the trust’s annual meeting.

The public meeting was not attended by its chief executive Nick Hulme because he was on annual leave.

It coincided with the publication of the trust’s 240-page annual report.

Sir Bob, who is the former Lib Dem MP for Colchester, reminded trust chairman David White what he said when he had attended his inaugural meeting in May.

Sir Bob added: “What I said to you then was I think the most important thing was to restore morale of staff.

“I have to say public utterances over the last four months have not done that.

“The recognition of staff is not really in the annual report.

“I think your opening remark should have said it. With the chief executive, you should be out there praising the staff.

“There is no mention of the relationship with the trade unions, no reflection in the last year of the 20,000 plaudits from general members of the public and fewer than 200 complaints this year so far.

“That is an incredible statistic of appreciation, in stark contrast to the Care Quality Commission whose chief executive has only visited the hospital once in the last two years.”

Sir Bob also said the trust being run by the same chairman and chief executive as Ipswich’s since May looked like it was “a takeover” and “not a collaboration”.

Mr White said to Sir Bob: “I remember your comments at the May meeting.

“There undoubtedly has been and will be really good care at this hospital.

“What I have sought to demonstrate is without the staff, we are lost.”

Mr White said the trust had to move on from the negativity of the regulators and be positive.

He added: “There was quite a lot of denial in this trust earlier in the year.

“I am really with you, we have to build upon taking the staff forward.

“We are in this together with the staff. We now know what needs to be done and are cracking on.”

The CQC carried out an inspection at Colchester General Hospital in April to look specifically at areas of concern from a previous inspection and to review any improvements.

However, it recommended the trust remained in special measures as not enough progress had been made in improving the hospital.

A partnership with Ipswich’s hospital trust was agreed in a bid to drive up standards.