The axed board of Kingston’s patient and social care watchdog will hold its own rival AGM later this month to try and regain control of an organisation which was launched with the promise it would give patients a voice.
K-Link’s independent steering group members were "sacked" by letter in January after months of stalemate with Kingston Citizens Advice Bureau (KCAB), the organisation which holds the purse strings.
They sent a formal letter of complaint on Friday to Bruce McDonald, chief executive of Kingston Council, which oversees the contract and has sided with KCAB in the dispute, alleging breach of contract and maladministration.
Sandra Berry, chairman of the steering group, made up of volunteers, said: "What we have realised over the last few weeks is the stitch up that has taken place.
"I’m not saying it was a deliberate stitch up but the tender documents were changed by Kingston Council between the draft being approved by us and the tender process, and changed in a severe way in that they removed the independence of the Link."
The steering group will hold its AGM on Monday, June 29 at 2pm in the United Reformed Church where it willl re-elect itself for the next year.
Just over a week later the Kingston Citizen Advice Bureau-backed Kingston Link will hold its own AGM on July 9.
Malcolm Alexander, chairman of the London Patients Forum, said the steering group had been let down and should seek a judicial review of the contract.
He said: "It’s very disturbing. Kingston is the only borough in the country not supported by a Link.
"Patients have a right to expect their services will be properly and effectively monitored by the Link."
K-Link was launched in July 2008 with the backing of both Kingston’s MPs, Edward Davey and Susan Kramer and an annual budget of £102,000.
Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey said: "It is just disappointing that we are where we are.
"It is very difficult and confusing for people and that’s why it is such an unhappy situation. One needs the wisdom of Solomon."
So far K-Link has just 106 members, fewer than attended the launch event in July and a drop in the ocean of the 185,000 patients registered in Kingston.
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