Pay-off claim after ‘affair’ exposure

John Archer

A whistleblower claims she was paid-off after she exposed an affair between a married £175,000-a-year NHS boss and one of his colleagues.

John Archer, the former chief executive of Pennine Care mental health trust resigned and retired earlier this year after a seven-month investigation.

It is understood the allegations made against Mr Archer were not proven and Mr Archer resigned prior to any disciplinary hearing.

A further allegation, that he may have lied when interviewed, related to a separate investigation involving another employee.

It has now been revealed he lied eight years ago to hide an affair with a colleague.

A whistleblower told Pennine Care bosses about the affair in 2005, but they both denied the relationship and the whistleblower is said to have been paid off to leave the trust with a five-figure sum.

A Pennine Care investigation found no conclusive evidence of the affair, and the body denied paying off staff. Pennine Care officials said Mr Archer was paid only money he was owed.

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has now called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to investigate whether taxpayers’ money was used to protect the reputation of Mr Archer, who lived in Dobcross before moving to Manchester.