The governors were suspended in the summer of 2023 after questioning the trust's account of disputed emails that appeared to implicate whistleblowing medic and former trust employee Peter Duffy in a string of clinical errors that led to the death of a patient at a UHMBT hospital in January 2015.

Duffy had previously blown the whistle on safety issues at the trust and claimed he was forced to resign for his own protection. He won a claim for unfair constructive dismissal in 2018, when the trust was ordered to pay him £102,000 in compensation.

UHMT said the suspension and dismissal of the governors were related to complaints about their behaviour and conduct and was in no way linked to their raising questions about any issues at the trust.

Professor Mike Thomas, chair, UHMBT, said: 'An independent investigation took place into the alleged conduct and behaviours, which found that for the majority of concerns raised, it was ‘more likely than not' that the two suspended governors had acted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the trust and/or committed a serious breach of the council of governors code of conduct.

'Based on the findings of the investigation and the responses from the two governors, the council of governors made the decision to remove the two governors from office.

'Given the personal nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate for us to discuss any further.'