Former Hospital Chief Executive Secures Landmark Payout After Whistleblowing Ordeal
Dr Susan Gilby, the former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital, has been awarded a substantial £1.4 million payout following an employment tribunal ruling that she was unfairly dismissed after raising concerns about alleged bullying and harassment. The tribunal found that senior hospital board members conspired to engineer her dismissal and deliberately concealed documents, describing their actions as part of a "sham case" designed to force her out of the organisation.
Traumatic Experience and Psychological Impact
Speaking exclusively about her experience, Dr Gilby revealed that she has been left traumatised by the events and made to feel like a "pariah in the NHS" for refusing to drop her legitimate concerns in exchange for what she described as a "non-job" offer. The consultant in intensive care and anaesthesia explained that the ordeal has had a profound psychological impact, potentially shortening her working life by at least a decade.
"I feel desperately saddened that my NHS career has come to an end in the way it has," Dr Gilby told reporters. "It's been very isolating. People walk away when they realise you're not willing to play by the NHS playbook and accept the offer to get you out of the situation."
Systematic Campaign of Exclusion and Document Destruction
The employment tribunal heard compelling evidence that Ian Haythornthwaite, the former chair of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, collaborated with three other senior figures – Ros Fallon, Ken Gill, and Nicola Price – to orchestrate Dr Gilby's dismissal after she made a protected disclosure about his conduct. Employment Judge Dawn Shotter delivered a damning assessment of the proceedings, describing Haythornthwaite as an "inaccurate historian" who failed to provide credible testimony.
Perhaps most concerning was the tribunal's finding that Haythornthwaite and his colleagues systematically deleted numerous documents, including private emails and WhatsApp messages, despite their legal obligation to preserve this evidence for the employment proceedings. Judge Shotter characterised this as a "deliberate intention to hide documents" that would have revealed the true extent of their involvement in the case against Dr Gilby.
Wider Implications for NHS Whistleblowing Culture
Dr Gilby has become an outspoken critic of what she describes as an increasingly common problem across the National Health Service, where "sham investigations" are used to manipulate individuals out of organisations or inappropriately silence legitimate concerns. While she stops short of describing the issue as endemic, she emphasises that such practices occur far too frequently and cause significant harm to both staff and patient safety.
"Patient safety incidents will go unnoticed and unreported and there will be no learning," Dr Gilby warned. "We see that time and time again. I was acutely aware of how poor culture and behaviour at the very top can impact patient safety. That's why I was so adamant that I wasn't going to walk away."
Calls for Systemic Reform and Stronger Protections
In the wake of her tribunal victory, Dr Gilby is advocating for substantial reforms within the NHS, including:
- New regulatory frameworks for senior NHS managers from non-clinical backgrounds
- A legally binding operational framework for NHS leadership
- Strengthened whistleblower protections that extend beyond current provisions
- Greater accountability for those who misuse organisational resources for personal vendettas
The former chief executive reports that she has been contacted by numerous health service leaders who have experienced similar forced exits, suggesting that her case represents a broader systemic issue rather than an isolated incident. She maintains that while many NHS staff continue to do excellent work, the recurring nature of these problems requires urgent attention and reform.
Response from the Hospital Trust
A spokesperson for the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust issued a brief statement acknowledging the tribunal's findings regarding the trust's failures in this case. "We remain focused on learning from the findings and continuing to support our staff and patients," the spokesperson said, adding that as the matter has concluded, no further comment would be provided.
Meanwhile, Dr Gilby and her legal team are reportedly exploring the possibility of making a criminal complaint against Ian Haythornthwaite, with alleged misfeasance in public office being considered as a potential basis for such action. Haythornthwaite has denied any criminal wrongdoing and contests the tribunal's findings regarding his credibility and conduct.
