Ranson tribunal 'not conducted to a satisfactory standard of competency'

Report released into government's management of Ranson tribunal

A report looking into government's management of the Dr Rosalind Ranson case has found that litigation 'was not conducted to a satisfactory standard of competency' but states that 'was not for any sinister reason'.

It has found that litigation undertaken by the Department of Health and Social Care was 'conducted in good faith', and there is 'no evidence' that any documents submitted to the tribunal were modified, false or deliberately misleading.

Richard Wright KC was appointed to undertake the independent review following the conclusion of the former medical director's employment hearing in June last year.

He worked alongside a Select Committee to analyse the case.

In his conclusions, Mr Wright KC states that: "The decision to defend the claim was taken in accordance with established procedure, was legally justifiable and was an appropriate decision for the DHSC to make at the time that it was made."

He has however critiqued the Attorney General's Chambers, stating that it 'failed to appreciate the significance and complexity of this Claim from the outset' and 'failed to grasp the potential for significant reputational damage arising from these proceedings for both the DHSC and the wider Isle of Man Government'.

He also found that there was a clear conflict in the role of Kathryn Magson as Chief Executive with responsibility for providing instructions to the Attorney General’s Chambers in defence of the claim and her role as the principal witness to the events at the heart of the litigation.