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Chief Minister to make statement on Dr Ranson tribunal today

Cannan says findings raise concerning questions about gov't culture

The Chief Minister will make a statement today on the outcome of an employment tribunal which found the Island's Medical Director was unfairly dismissed from her role.

Alfred Cannan has been granted permission to speak on the issue at this month's sitting of Tynwald.

The report found the former medical director lost her job because she spoke out about government's approach to Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic.

In a previous statement, he said the findings raise a number of concerning broader questions about the culture within Isle of Man Government, along with the quality of leadership.

The sitting gets underway from 10.30am.

The enterprise minister, speaking about the tribunal outcome on the Mannin Line yesterday, told Manx Radio that the Isle of Man Government needs to have 'the right attitude and environment for everyone to do their job properly'.

Dr Alex Allinson, whilst education minister, was approached by Dr Ranson who claimed she'd been forbidden from speaking directly to the health minister at the time, David Ashford.

Dr Allinson says it highlights an issue that needs to be dealt with properly:

Ahead of today's statement, Douglas Central MHK Ann Corlett said action needs to be taken to stop a 'culture of harassment and bullying in the Island's health service' from destroying people's lives.

Mrs Corlett, who was a political member of the DHSC between 2016 and 2021, says it's an issue she's witnessed first hand:

Since the tribunal's findings were published a week ago there have been calls for a number of people formerly and currently in government to be held accountable.

The report was particularly critical of the Ex-DHSC Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Magson and Public Health Director, Dr Henrietta Ewart.

There have also been calls for Treasury Minister David Ashford, who was health minister at the time, to resign - something he told Manx Radio last week he wasn't considering, saying he played no part in the decision to dismiss Dr Ranson.

You can listen across to today's Tynwald sitting, starting at 10:30am, on Manx Radio's AM 1368, online and on smartphone apps.

There will also be a live blog available on the Manx Radio news page.

 

 

 

 
 

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