MOVES to allow top health bosses extra powers to handle bigger cash budgets have sparked fears of corruption.

New structures are being put in place to allow the chief executive of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, Dr Tom Mann, to sign cheques up to £250,000 -- without a counter signature.

But health authority members expressed grave misgivings about the move following a corruption scandal which rocked the authority in 1991.

Non-executive members, meeting at Bolton Town Hall, said they feared that history could repeat itself if safeguards were removed.

Vice chairman of the health authority, Jane Monks, who is a non-executive member, said: "It's not that we don't trust you. But I remember what it feels like to have a financial scandal in our midst.

"There are to be a lot of changes in the near future in the upper levels of the health authority. How will we keep track?

"Cutting out the chairman is worrying. The chairman is a champion."

Following a case in 1991 when a Bolton officer stole almost £17,000 from the health authority to buy riding gear, safeguards had been put in place controlling who could sign for goods and services.

Previously, the chief executive could only sign cheques on his own up to £50,000.

If he needed to buy services or goods up to £100,000, the chief executive needed a signature from the authority chairman.

However, Dr Mann told the health authority that the amounts "were peanuts" compared to the half a billion pounds worth of contracts signed by the authority each year.

Dr Mann said: "If we have corrupt officers and a corrupt chief executive they will operate within the existing system.

"This way I am answerable to the secretary of state with no shadow falling on the board.

"Yes, we are cutting out the chairman level. But the chief executive should be allowed to run a business. By all means, the board should scrutinise all decisions and it is up to you how far you go but this is where you are recommended to draw the line."

The new moves, drawn up by director of finance Tim Bennett, will go before auditors for final approval.