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Ex-Countess of Chester Chief Wins £1.4m After Tribunal Finds Board Plot to Oust Whistleblower

The outcome has renewed calls for stronger NHS whistleblower protections, with scrutiny of taxpayer costs.

Overview

  • Dr Susan Gilby secured a £1.4 million settlement after an employment tribunal upheld her claim of unfair and constructive dismissal.
  • The tribunal found senior figures at the Countess of Chester Hospital devised a plan dubbed “Project Countess” to remove her and deleted relevant records.
  • The trust said the case was resolved through a mutually agreed settlement, and chairman Ian Haythornthwaite resigned when the judgment was published.
  • The BBC reported the total bill to the public could approach £3 million once legal costs are included.
  • The BMA backed Gilby and condemned the treatment of NHS whistleblowers, while she said her career was devastated and no meaningful apology had been offered.