A move to oust the board of Healthcare Locums (HCL) only has ‘minority support’, according to a spokesperson for the healthcare recruiter.

Last night, HCL’s executive vice chairman Kate Bleasdale and husband John Cariss’s investment company Healthmark UK called for an extraordinary general meeting to replace the healthcare staffing specialist’s board.

In a statement, HCL said: “A requisition to hold a general meeting to replace the board has been received by HCL from Healthmark UK, of whom the designated members are Kate Bleasdale, HCL’s executive vice chairman, and her husband John Cariss.

“While HCL intends to comply with its statutory obligations in relation to the meeting, the board perceives the requisition to be an unwelcome distraction. The internal investigation referred to in HCL’s announcement dated 25 January 2011 continues.”

A spokesperson for HCL told Recruiter: “The requisition itself acknowledges there was only minority support for the proposals and the board will present its case in due course.”