DHSC makes £5,000 donation to hospice to settle Dr Ranson claim

Department also makes unreserved apology to Island's former medical director

The Department of Health and Social Care has made a £5,000 donation to Hospice Isle of Man and apologised to the Island's former medical director.

It comes as the two parties have agreed to settle a second unfair dismissal claim lodged by Dr Rosalind Ranson.

The tribunal previously ruled Dr Ranson had been unfairly dismissed as a result of whistlebowing when the decision not to transfer her to Manx Care was made in December 2020.

In a hearing in June, the panel heard she was intending to proceed with a second claim, relating to her treatment up to her departure from the Department of Health and Social Care in January 2022.

Since that hearing, Dr Ranson and the DHSC have come to an agreement, requiring the department to donate £5,000 to the Island's hospice.

The DHSC has also made an unreserved apology for the damaging treatment of Dr Ranson, which included significant continuing detriments after March 2021, as highlighted in the tribunal’s previous rulings, as well as adopting the apologies previously made in Tynwald by the chief minister and health minister.

The tribunal says this has allowed the second claim to be withdrawn, and draws a line under the disputes between the two parties, but that Dr Ranson has reserved her position in respect of claims in other forums.

However, the two parties are yet to agree legal costs relating to Dr Ranson's first claim.

Earlier this year, the tribunal heard the sides disagreed over the medic's legal bill as early in the case she had been represented by her husband, who is a barrister.

In May, the tribunal awarded Dr Ranson a total of £3.2m, plus 70% of her legal costs - a record-breaking payout for a whistleblower on the Isle of Man.

In a statement, Health Minister Lawrie Hooper says: "I'm pleased that the second tribunal has now concluded following the withdrawal of the additional claim, and welcome the judgement that has been published which outlines the agreement reached between both parties."