NHS chief in superbug scandal quits new role

A former NHS chief who presided over a superbug scandal has been forced to step down from her post heading a review of other hospitals.

Ruth Harrison was given a £140,000 "golden handshake" to leave Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire after 33 patients died.

But at the weekend it emerged she was being paid tens of thousands of pounds to carry out a review of women and children's services at London's St Helier hospital and Epsom hospital.

Today the three trusts involved announced she was stepping down but another consultant from the same firm, Durrow, will take over. Ms Harrison is listed as a director of Durrow, which is set to receive £52,000 in consultancy fees.

A statement said Ms Harrison felt she would be a "distraction" after her appointment, which health campaigners had attacked, was made public.