Gov't refuses to publish Ranson appeal details despite FoI requests

Cabinet Office and DHSC reject requests from multiple Island journalists

Government has refused to release details relating to appeals in the Dr Rosalind Ranson tribunal following a series of Freedom of Information requests from members of the Island's media.

It comes after the Department of Health and Social Care lodged two unsuccessful appeals in the High Court last year.

The DHSC asked the High Court to intervene in the summer after the tribunal looking into the unfair dismissal of the Island's former medical director requested evidence from Anna Heeley at the Attorney General's Chambers, who represented the Department in the original liability hearing.

A separate appeal sought to throw out a disclosure hearing looking into how the department submitted documents to the tribunal, after the DHSC was forced to engage a new legal team because of the Heeley appeal.

This week, Isle of Man TV received a response to a Freedom of Information request asking for all communications between the Chief Minister and/or Cabinet Office with officers in the DHSC regarding the Heeley appeal, which was heard in October, to be disclosed.

In its response, Cabinet Office said the information is exempt due to the fundamental right to confidentiality between legal advisers and their clients, that disclosure might unfairly expose a legal position, and the case still being live.

Isle of Man TV has indicated that it intends to seek a review into this decision.

It comes after Gef the Mongoose had a similar request seeking all internal and external communications relating to both appeals refused by the DHSC in March.

In September last year, Manx Radio submitted an FoI requesting details of legal costs relating to the disclosure appeal, but the DHSC stated it did not hold or could not find the information requested, despite having engaged a Douglas law firm to represent it in both appeals.

The tribunal is currently determining the payout Dr Ranson will receive, having been dismissed from her role for whistleblowing.