Former NHS Trust Chief Executive Awarded £1.4m in Unfair Dismissal Case
A former chief executive of the Countess of Chester NHS Trust has been awarded £1.4 million in damages following an employment tribunal’s ruling. Dr. Susan Gilby was relieved of her duties after raising a whistleblowing complaint against the trust’s then chairman, Ian Haythornthwaite, citing bullying and harassment. The tribunal concluded that Dr. Gilby had been unjustly dismissed as a result of her actions.
Details of the Case
Dr. Gilby was suspended from her position in December 2022 and subsequently took her case to an employment tribunal in February 2025. The tribunal found that her dismissal was linked to her formal grievance against Haythornthwaite. Her legal representation stated that the awarded compensation represents one of the most substantial payouts made to a former NHS employee in similar circumstances.
In her statement, Dr. Gilby expressed profound sadness over the treatment she endured after making a protected disclosure. She remarked, “I had no choice other than to seek justice,” and lamented the absence of an apology from the trust for the impact on her career.
Cultural Impact and Comments from the BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) condemned the actions of the trust, labelling them as “appalling behaviour.” Dr. Tom Dolphin, chair of the BMA council, stated that this case highlights the need for a shift in the prevailing culture within the NHS, especially regarding the treatment of whistleblowers. He cautioned that the repercussions of such behaviour could lead to significant legal consequences for NHS trusts.
Ian Radford, the solicitor advocating for Dr. Gilby, noted the disturbing trend of inadequate support for whistleblowers within the NHS. He pointed out that the lack of a formal apology from the trust further exemplifies its neglect towards those who seek to expose wrongdoing.
Background
Dr. Gilby assumed leadership of the Countess of Chester NHS Trust in the wake of the arrest of Lucy Letby in 2018. Letby, a nurse, was later convicted of multiple counts of murdering infants, an atrocity that shook the healthcare community. During Dr. Gilby’s tenure, she managed the trust through the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst also addressing the serious implications of the ongoing investigations into Letby’s actions.
The trust has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding this matter, leaving the broader implications of Dr. Gilby’s case still in question.
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