Re: David Astley and the Cult of Personality As a member of staff, I felt compelled to comment on the piece about David Astley, chief executive of St George's Hospital, in Wandsworth Borough News, November 21.

The article implies that David is a family man of humble origins who is kind to children, animals and enjoys watching a game of football. The question your readers should really be asking themselves is: How could someone who has spent so many years working in the health service, now be so hopelessly out of touch with his workforce?

If St George's Hospital is to be transformed into the world class institution he so desires, start by removing some of the external financial consultants bankrolled to advise on projects real or imagined.

Earlier this year, Price Waterhouse Coopers visited the trust for a second bite of the cherry. This troughing cost the taxpayer £485,000 over 20 weeks - nice work if you can get it.

Next he should stop encouraging articles in the press saying "Trust is in the black" when it is still £37million in debt.

Finally, perhaps he could stop paying lip service to good old NHS staff and support them properly. Social clubs, sports facilities and charities make a hospital a far better place to work and such a large hospital has no valid excuse for not providing and supporting them.

He should stop hounding these good people out in order to snatch parcels of land on the cheap or to create some kind of corporate utopia.

The best workforce is clearly a happy one. Frankly, if we are to seriously address problems such as MRSA we need to be equipped with the best workforce.

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