Former medical director awarded nearly £3.2m in employment dispute

Follows her unfair dismissal

A tribunal investigating the unfair dismissal of the Island's former medical director has recommended she be paid almost £3.2m in compensation.

It comes after the Employment and Equality tribunal heard evidence on remedy in the case of Dr Rosalind Ranson.

The tribunal previously ruled that the medic had been fired because she was a whistleblower and questioned government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At evidence sessions earlier this year, the panel was told the case has had a detrimental impact on Dr Ranson's mental health, and that it could be years before she's well enough to return to the workplace.

The figure includes £1.46m in future loss of earnings, and almost £750,000 in future pension loss.

Injury to feelings, aggravated damages and personal injury also form part of the total.

An additional £10,000 in exemplary damages was awarded. Dr Ranson's legal team had sought £100,000, but the tribunal said awarding more would not only impact the DHSC but the Manx taxpayer and those on hospital waiting lists.

The panel also ruled that the Department of Health and Social Care must also pay 70% of Dr Rosalind Ranson's legal costs during the liability proceedings.

While the final figure for costs is unknown, the tribunal says with a 10-day hearing and over 6,000 documents in evidence, it's anticipated the legal costs will be considerable.

The payout will be a record for a whistleblowing case on the Isle of Man, surpassing the previous highest of just under £700,000.

A hearing date has been provisionally set aside in June for further submissions from the two parties.

 The Department of Health and Social Care says it has received the detailed decision of the Employment and Equality Tribunal and once the case is closed, the Minister intends to make a statement to Tynwald.