Superbug scandal boss in court fight for £250,000

THE hospital boss who presided over Britain's worst superbug scandal is taking her compensation claim to the High Court, the Standard can reveal today.

Rose Gibb left Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust by "mutual consent" in October last year after 90 patients died from Clostridium difficile. Her lawyers will go to the High Court on 24 January to try to force the trust into awarding Ms Gibb a "golden goodbye" of around £250,000.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson blocked a six-figure payment after the outbreak between April 2004 and September-2006. The amount was reduced to £75,000 - half the former chief executive's salary.

Talks between Ms Gibb's trade union and the trust are understood to have stalled because she refused to accept the payment.