Concern about the quality of care at struggling Whipps Cross Hospital has prompted councillors to invited the chair of the trust responisble to an scrutiny meeting.

At an Epping Forest District Council meeting on Monday (April 27), democratic services manager Stephen Tautz announced that two letters have requested Sir Stephen O’Brien, outgoing chairman of the Barts Health NHS Trust, attend a meeting on June 9 to brief on plans for the Leytonstone hospital.

The first letter was sent on March 25, eight days after a CQC report described the quality of care at Whipps Cross as “inadequate”, with patients at risk and staff facing a culture of bullying.

The letter, by councillor Richard Morgan, says: “Whilst the overview and scrutiny committee accepts that Barts Health NHS Trust is no doubt already seeking to address the areas of concern identified by the Care Quality Commission, the Committee would welcome an opportunity to hear from you personally”.

Sir O’Brien stood down from his post as chairman at the end of March, making him the third senior manager to resign in two months.

He has been replaced by acting chair Philip Wright while a permanent replacement is found.