Barrie Blower, chairman of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust, has resigned following the uproar over his comments that agency nurses ‘kill more people than they save’.

The remarks were made during a three-hour interview with Tracey Davies, whose mother died of cancer at Walsall Manor Hospital in December 2003.

In the interview, which was secretly being taped, Blower implied that there were problems with agency staff.

Blower was forced onto the defensive after the interview was handed to Carlton TV and excerpts were broadcast during a local news bulletin.

In a statement issued by the trust he apologised, saying there was no evidence to support his comments. He later resigned.