Patient groups have every right to question the make-up of the inquiry panel that will investigate the sacking of Royal Cornwall Hospital's Trust chief executive John Watkinson and the manner in which upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery was moved from Truro to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Their concern that so far only one non-NHS member has been appointed to the inquiry board is not a criticism of the board members that have been given seats. It is, rather, a perfectly legitimate concern that to be acceptable to the vast majority of patients and their families in Cornwall any such inquiry has to be seen to be scrupulously independent. With the greatest of respect to all those involved, that is not the case as things stand.

There is absolutely no question that trust and faith in the management of health services in Cornwall has been severely shaken by the Watkinson case. Even outside of Cornwall health professionals and patients alike are shaking their heads and wondering just what is going on. Unless and until more board members from outside the NHS sit on this panel those doubts will remain.