In a statement today the trust says chief executive Jonathan Parry has been excluded from his role as a “holding action pending the completion of an investigation”. It adds that the exclusion is “not a disciplinary sanction”.

The chief operating officer, human resources director and deputy director of performance have also been excluded.

The statement says: “The exclusions follow an independent external investigation into three separate whistleblowing complaints received by the trust.

“No aspect of the whistleblowing complaints or investigation related to issues of patient care or safety.  

“The four employees are excluded whilst an internal investigation is conducted… The decision to exclude the four employees was unanimously agreed by the chair and the six non-executive directors on the trust board with support from the NHS Trust Development Authority.”

Ann Marr, chief executive of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospital Trust, has been brought in to provide interim leadership for the trust as accountable officer.

She will be supported by Gaynor Hayles, associate director of nursing at the TDA. Both will also continue their current roles.