BURY Hospice’s former chief executive has launched a bid for compensation after claiming unfair dismissal.

Jacqui Comber was suspended in February amid complaints about her leadership skills and was then sacked in March.

In February, new hospice chiefs launched a probe into why the Rochdale Old Road facility was £600,000 in the red, and that investigation has today concluded.

Those now at the helm say they are hoping the findings of the probe will reassure supporters and will allow them to continue the bridge-building exercise they have orchestrated since February.

However, they were shocked last Thursday when ACAS, the conciliation service, informed them that Ms Comber had claimed she was unfairly dismissed.

Ms Comber has instructed Liverpool-based firm MSB Solicitors to act on her behalf.

According to one source, the firm contacted ACAS in March to make it aware of the claim and ACAS is understood to have not received details of what Ms Comber would consider a fair settlement.

The source said an employment tribunal would now consider whether Ms Comber should be awarded her salary between March 16, when she was sacked, and November, when a tribunal hearing is due to take place.

Under employment law, the maximum compensation she could get is £72,400.

A Bury Hospice spokesman said they could not comment on the claim until it has been resolved.

A source said: “It is quite outrageous and people are up in arms about it. She should not get a penny.”

The hospice’s board is due to meet next Tuesday to discuss the claim.

If the board contests the claim, the hospice would use its litigation insurance to ensure that fighting it will not be a drain on the hospice’s funds.

However, if Ms Comber’s bid is compensation, the cash might have to come from the hospice’s account, which has been building up steady cash reserves in recent months.

About £400,000 of its annual budget comes from NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and the other £1.6 million comes from donations.

The five-month investigation was carried out by independent consult Suzanne Carr, who has since been made the hospice’s general manager.

The hospice said that Ms Comber was not offered the opportunity to be questioned as part of the investigation and has not been shown any of the written findings.

The report summarising the probe said: “The review found that there had been significant failures in leadership, governance and management that included poor medium and long-term planning, inadequate performance and risk management.

“This left fundamental weaknesses resulting in, for example, the development of capital projects with insufficient resources to bring them into sustainable operation.

“Staff and volunteers worked in an environment that lacked transparency and consistency.

“The workforce was affected by poor morale and, in some cases, felt dismayed at what was going on.

“A number of staff and volunteers resigned, relationships with stakeholders broke down and confidence in Bury Hospice deteriorated.”

The findings of the review have been backed by Bury Council and NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group.

MSB Solicitors declined to comment.