SPECULATION is growing that a hospital trust branded inadequate by inspectors could be placed into special measures.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is expected to publish a long-awaited second report on East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust next month (sep).

Its first report earlier this year revealed inspectors found a “worrying disconnect” between senior managers and frontline staff, allegations of bullying and a leadership described as a “dictatorship”.

Concerns were also raised about the trust’s surgery and maternity and outpatients services.

However the care provided by staff was praised.

Trust chief executive Darren Grayson stepped down from his post in the summer after coming under increasing pressure to resign from Eastbourne and Hastings borough councils s and a vote of no confidence from the East Sussex County Council health overview and scrutiny committee.

Unions believe the second report, based on a follow-up visit, will not reveal significant improvements and the trust will be placed into special measures.

They believe this is one of the reasons Mr Grayson left the trust.

The GMB union is now calling for reassurances that any managers who may resign as a result of special measures should be dismissed and not given any pay off.

GMB organiser Gary Palmer said: “We are also calling on East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to confirm or deny increasingly strong rumours the trust are to be placed into special measures potentially as soon as September.

“GMB members and staff are shocked and understandably angry that not only have the trust management put patients and services at risk to a point that placing the trust into special measures could be required to finally turn things around, but that those responsible for the troubles at the trust could potentially be recipients of substantial NHS pay offs if they choose to resign as a result.”

The trust runs Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards and also provides community services across Sussex.

A trust spokesman said Mr Grayson had moved to work elsewhere in the NHS and was not getting a pay-off.