HOSPITAL chief John Brunt said his final goodbyes as he took early retirement - and bowed out with a song.

Mr Brunt - who staff say has been made the fall guy for a row over fiddling waiting list figures - held his leaving party on Tuesday.

A band made up of medical staff played at the party at the Royal Bolton Hospital. Mr Brunt was given a guitar as a leaving present, only to be told he had to play it and sing some songs.

Mr Brunt, aged 51, took early retirement after 10 years as chief executive and now plans to take a few holidays.

He told the audience: "What a wonderful surprise! It has been a wonderful 18 years at this hospital and we have achieved wonderful things together.

"We wanted high standards but to maintain that friendly atmosphere we have always had. We've done that."

Peter Liptrott, chairman of the hospital trust, said: "John had a method of management which was a friendly, open method and that improved the hospital. Everyone who comes to Bolton says what a friendly hospital it is and that's down to John's management style."

More than 200 hospital staff past and present were at the party to say goodbye to Mr Brunt. As well as a guitar, he was presented with a watch and pictures of Bolton General Hospital when he joined the Trust 18 years ago and pictures of the new hospital now.

Mr Brunt, married with two sons and two daughters, went off sick for four months after a row broke out over fiddling waiting list figures last November.

He was cleared of any wrongdoing but staff say he has had to "carry the can".

An investigation was held after a check by the Audit Commission revealed that 83 patients had been waiting 12 months or more for minor operations. The hospital had reported that no-one was waiting.

David Fillingham, who has come from the Department of Health, takes over as chief executive from today.

"My role has been part of several teams but we have all been consistent in what we wanted to do: improve services, expand services and develop services for Bolton and the surrounding areas.

Mr Brunt, aged 51, began life as chief executive by taking up the difficult task of relocating Bolton's main hospitals to the site at Minerva Road. Building work started in 1994, work was completed in September 1996 - and the project was a success.

Mr Brunt hails from Swinton and studied at Manchester University before joining the NHS 30 years ago as a finance trainee. After posts at Prestwich and South Manchester, he came to Bolton as unit general manager of Bolton Royal Infirmary in 1986. He was elected president of the Institute of Healthcare Management in 2000.

Medical director Ron Hopkins played the drums and Eddie McGurk, Director of Human Resources, took up another guitar, and the three sung several songs.