DHSC's Dr Ranson tribunal bill rises to almost £900,000

Former medical director won her claim of unfair dismissal last year

The Department of Health and Social Care's legal bill for the tribunal involving its former medical director has risen to almost £900,000.

Dr Rosalind Ranson won her claim of unfair dismissal against the department last year.

Updated figures published in response to a Freedom of Information request from Manx Radio show the total costs incurred by the DHSC now stand at £888,061.62.

The spend covers the original liability hearing held in January and February 2022, as well as a disclosure hearing last summer, two high court appeals and remedy proceedings earlier this year.

It also includes £31,500 of legal costs awarded to Dr Ranson after the DHSC lost its high court appeals relating to the disclosure hearing.

Details released in May this year confirmed the costs to that point stood at just over £676,000.

The department was represented by a UK advocate at the liability hearing with support from the Attorney General's Chambers.

It also brought in an Island law firm to represent its case in the high court appeals and subsequent tribunal hearings, with representation from an off-Island KC at the remedy hearing.

Dr Ranson was awarded almost £3.2m in compensation as a result of her unfair dismissal for whistleblowing - a record for a Manx tribunal.

The tribunal also awarded her 70% of her legal costs, the value of which is still to be determined.