Vindicated whistleblower says doctors should not be fearful of raising safety concerns (16 January 2026)

Summary

Susan Gilby, the former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded £1.4m in damages after a tribunal found she was unfairly dismissed by the Trust. It is one of the largest settlements of its kind in NHS history. In this interview with the British Medical Association she talks about her case and how in 2022 she was offered a 16-month ‘non-job’ to walk away quietly from the concerns she had been raising. She emphasises the importance of doctors feeling confident to blow the whistle when they have patient safety concerns and not be deterred if they face barriers.