The former chief executive of an Oxford hospital is taking legal action, claiming he was unfairly dismissed.

Colin Jones said it was "unbelievable" that he lost his job at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, in Headington, and that the move had cost him his career.

Mr Jones, 57, of The Farthings, Marcham, near Abingdon, is also angry that he was told to leave without his substantial six-figure three-years' notice pay or pension entitlements, following allegations made about his conduct at work. He is now taking his case for unfair dismissal and wrongful termination to the High Court and to an employment tribunal in Reading.

He said: "I have great affection for the NHS, which I have served for more than 25 years, and particularly for the NOC.

"I have no wish to cause them embarrassment or to incur legal costs. However, their treatment of me has been unbelievable and has quite unnecessarily cost me my career. Obviously, I expect to receive the compensation that is due under my contract including my loss of pension."

Managers terminated Mr Jones's contract in January. They claimed they tried to hold a disciplinary hearing on four separate occasions following complaints from members of staff, but he failed to come because of sickness.

Mr Jones strongly denied the complaints against him, which he said included a claim he had asked a colleague if she was happy at work and another allegation that he had closed his office door during meetings.