Jailed NHS boss lands new top job
A SENIOR Stoke-on-Trent health official who was jailed for lying about his qualifications has landed another top job in the NHS.
Lee Whitehead, aged 45, was released after serving three weeks of a 12-week sentence imposed by North Staffordshire magistrates in January.
Now he has started work in a £57,500 post as service development manager with the Bexley Care Trust in Kent.
The role involves encouraging patients to use healthcare in the community rather than in hospitals.
Mr Whitehead had been appointed as the £78,000 director of planning and modernisation at Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust in 2007 after falsely claiming he had a doctorate and Masters degree.
But he left in disgrace six months later when his lies came to light and the police were called in.
A spokesman for Bexley Care Trust said Mr Whitehead fully acknowledged that he had made a mistake and "error of judgment" and declared his misdemeanour in his application.
He added: "Mr Whitehead is an experienced NHS senior manager with nearly 20 years' service in the NHS.
"He has a proven track record of helping to deliver better services and is committed to improving service choice and delivery."
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by perry, staffs
Saturday, July 04 2009, 2:06PM
“The guy made a dreadful error of judgement claiming to have false qualifications & probably no one is more aware of that than him.However he certainly did not deserve a crimminal record.He obviously has many other skills & talents that are an asset to the NHS.It also begs the question about his collegues who shopped him they obviously have too much time on their hands chasing that one best put them on a time & motion study stoke PCT”
by TIM, Stoke
Friday, July 03 2009, 7:58PM
“At least he has got something about him. He gets of his backside and works.
Better to have people like him than some of the low life scroungers who are never going to go anywhere in life.
GOOD LUCK LEE.”
by Pete, Packmoor
Friday, July 03 2009, 5:05PM
“I'm sure they could have found someone equally qualified and WITHOUT a Criminal Record.”
by lexicon2, stoke
Friday, July 03 2009, 4:21PM
“I commented when this story broke ... Lee is totally committed to ensuring that services for people who have experienced mental ill health are good
he understands and subscribes to the social care model, whilst supporting the part that health have to play
I am really sorry that we lost Lee from stoke - why he did what he did we will never know ... it could have been the stress of dreadful family circumstances that he was facing
if you are reading this Lee ... good luck”
by Janice, Werrington
Friday, July 03 2009, 4:21PM
“Are they really so short of suitable candidates in the NHS? Ones that haven't commited fraud, for instance.
So the moral is - lie, get a good job, get found out, say ooops sorry - then get another good job.”