Carruthers and the South West SHA were criticised by an employment tribunal following the dismissal by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust of its chief executive John Watkinson; however an independent review conducted by Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, former president of The Law Society, concluded that there had been no impropriety. Mr Watkinson argued that his dismissal was because he had opposed SHA plans to reconfigure upper gastrointestinal services within the South West of England by centralising services at Plymouth on the grounds that there had been insufficient public consultation and the process was therefore illegal.
Following the dismissal of John Watkinson, chief executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, by the South West SHA, an employment tribunal criticized Carruthers and the SHA. However, a review conducted by Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, former president of The Law Society, found no wrongdoing. Mr. Watkinson argued that his dismissal was due to his opposition to the SHA's plan to centralize upper gastrointestinal services in Plymouth because public consultation had been inadequate and the process was therefore illegal.