Bleasdale resigns from HCL board

Kate Bleasdale has resigned from the board of Healthcare Locums, the healthcare staffing firm she founded back in 2003, though she remains an employee of the company.

The resignation was announced less than a month after she, alongside chief financier Diane Jarvis, was suspended as executive vice-chairman.

At the time, Healthcare Locums said "serious accounting irregularities" had been brought to the attention of the board, "as a result of which the company will be carrying out an immediate investigation into the financial implications".

Last night, the firm said Ms Bleasdale's resignation does not affect the suspension, which remains in place. The company's shares remain suspended from trading on the AIM since it announced the investigation in January.