Home / Crime and Justice / NHS Whistleblower Wins £1.4m After Unfair Dismissal
NHS Whistleblower Wins £1.4m After Unfair Dismissal
16 Jan
Summary
- Former NHS executive awarded £1.4m in damages for unfair dismissal.
- Tribunal found dismissal occurred after a whistleblowing complaint.
- Payout is one of the largest ever for a former NHS employee.
Dr. Susan Gilby, formerly chief executive of the Countess of Chester NHS Trust, has secured a £1.4 million damages payout after an unfair dismissal claim. The employment tribunal ruled in February 2025 that her suspension in December 2022 and subsequent forced departure stemmed from a formal whistleblowing complaint lodged against the trust's then-chairman, Ian Haythornthwaite. This significant sum is recognized as one of the largest ever awarded to a former NHS employee.
Dr. Gilby, who led the trust through the pandemic after joining weeks after Lucy Letby's 2018 arrest, expressed deep sadness over her treatment. She highlighted that the trust has failed to offer any meaningful apology for the harm caused or the termination of her career. Her grievance against Mr. Haythornthwaite, filed in July 2022, cited bullying, harassment, and undermining behavior, which ultimately led to her dismissal.
The British Medical Association (BMA) condemned the trust's actions as "appalling" and called for cultural change within the NHS. BMA council chair Dr. Tom Dolphin stated the ruling should warn against the "shameful treatment of whistleblowers." The trust has reportedly refused to apologize, and a further hearing was scheduled for February 2025 to determine legal costs.
