SIR JAMES Ackers, Tory chair of the country's largest regional health authority. resigned on January 9 amid a growing roar of scandal.
Ackers had sat for sen years charge of the 22 health districts of the West Midlands RHA.
He became best-known in recent years for his role in promoting the hilariously-mis itled Healthy Birmingham' plan which would reduce Britain's second city to two inaccessible suburban nospiti sil05. minutes on a good day from the centre.
But it was not this which brought his demise, nor even bed closures which have reduced Birmingham's NHS toa continuing yellow alert situa ion, in which only emergencies and urgent cases can be admitted. Bottomley to intervene and demand his resignation was the growing te of embarrassing revolations : the financial dealings of the f2 bilion ayear RHA, and itslinks with a string of private and newly-privatised companies set up under Ackers' encouragement Among these are:
• The capid colapse with C2.2m debts of da business servicos. Tormed by an RHA management buy-out.
• Audit Commission criticism of the hiving off of the RHA's supples division.
• The halting of the region's Healthtrac com sputer system, which Sir James Ackers • The 'unlatur payment of Etm do the private computer firm Financial information Project • The payment by the RHA of a massive £2.5 million to US manage. ment consultants United Research Group. This covered such items as the charter of private jets. RHA offcial Chris Watney went missing on a round-the-world yacht trip, and has now returned to face allegations over the deal.
•The semi-privatisation of the RHA's estates dision. which is aled on the brink of collapse, threatoning up to 60 redundancies. Essential ser vices are being taken back under RHA management Eventualy Ackers, whose own company is now in receivership and rupowory coop i oook luck. An inquiry into the RHA's affairs by Bottomiey's advisor Sainsbury's boss Si cluded that he had to go: his Tory cronies could no longer protect him. Birmingham Vorthfeld MP Richard Burcen demanding a Commons statement trom Bottomley *on how such a state of affairs Britain's largost RHAs. How did the Authority pesino suota trancia ness. The system that allowed it all to take place is the real villain." NUPE's local official John Dempsey points out that: smoke-filled rooms have led to the inevitable errors.' He is demanding "An end to secret meetings, proper consultation with health workers, and an opening of the books."
Meantile the battle against the dosures continues Sive Our Services campagn coordinator Sharon Smal sald *Ackers was totaly immovable and arrogant but he was only the Egurehead. The Sght to save our 6,000 threatened jobs, community ervices and facildes is only begin ing. The closures of wards and site: will be fought.
• Contact SOS Action Campaign Committeo, SBHA District Ottices, Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6JD (021-6271028-