In a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through the National Health Service, a former chief executive has been awarded £1.4 million in compensation after being bullied out of her role at the hospital where Lucy Letby committed her horrific crimes. Dr Susan Gilby, 62, has spoken out for the first time, expressing nothing but 'contempt' for the 'vindictive' chairman who orchestrated her removal.
A Secret Plot to Oust a Whistleblower
Dr Gilby, an anaesthetist, took the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to an employment tribunal after being forced from her position as chief executive in December 2022. A judge upheld her claim for unfair dismissal, culminating in one of the largest known payouts to a former NHS employee. The settlement effectively marks the end of her NHS career.
In a revealing interview, Dr Gilby described her astonishment at discovering the lengths to which then-chairman Ian Haythornthwaite went to remove her. This followed her decision to blow the whistle on his aggressive conduct and a management approach she believed prioritised cost-cutting over patient safety.
The Discovery of 'Project Countess'
Among 33,000 documents disclosed during legal proceedings was evidence of a covert operation, nicknamed 'Project Countess'. Judge John Crosfill stated this project had the 'sole aim of exiting (Dr Gilby) to protect his position as chair.'
'I was bewildered that people were acting with so much venom,' Dr Gilby recounted. 'It was so vindictive and I just couldn't understand why. The extreme lengths they went to, to try and harm me was something that I just found difficult to get my head around.'
She added, 'It wasn't for the greater good. It wasn't for anything other than to do me harm and protect him. There was actually a note that was found in disclosure that said, 'must protect the chair.''
Bonus Payments for Conspiracy
The plot took a more shocking turn with the revelation that Mr Haythornthwaite, a former BBC accountant, authorised irregular 'honoraria' or bonus payments. These high five-figure sums were paid to two non-executive directors, Ken Gill and Ros Fallon, in return for their work on Project Countess.
'We know they were each paid two payments of a high five-figure sum,' Dr Gilby disclosed. 'That was a shocking moment, which I didn't believe at first, I had to be shown the evidence.'
When asked about her emotional response to the conspiracy, Dr Gilby stated that breaking down 'wasn't really her style.' Her overriding sentiment towards those involved is one of pure 'contempt'.
A Tumultuous Tenure Amidst a Murder Trial
Dr Gilby's appointment as medical director came just three weeks before Lucy Letby's first arrest in July 2018. She unexpectedly ascended to the chief executive role less than two months later following the sudden departure of her predecessor.
Despite the immense pressure of leading a hospital at the centre of a major criminal investigation, Dr Gilby states she successfully steered the Trust through the Covid-19 pandemic and began improving its governance. This progress was disrupted by the arrival of Mr Haythornthwaite as chairman in late 2021.
Confrontation and Intimidation
Dr Gilby said it quickly became clear the new chairman expected her to work for him, not with him. When she challenged his approach, she alleges he became 'aggressive and intimidating'.
One particularly distressing meeting in July 2022 saw Mr Haythornthwaite 'slamming his hand onto the table' and 'shaking his hand in my face,' according to Dr Gilby. It was after this incident, and her subsequent formal complaint, that their relationship irrevocably broke down, leading to the creation of Project Countess.
A Moral Stand During the Letby Trial
By November 2022, the situation had deteriorated so severely that non-executive director Ros Fallon told Dr Gilby it was 'time to go.' She was offered a 'bribe'—a 16-month salary package in a non-job with NHS England—on condition she dropped her complaint and left quietly.
However, Dr Gilby felt a profound 'moral obligation' to remain. Lucy Letby's trial had begun at Manchester Crown Court the previous month, and staff were being called to give evidence. Dr Gilby believed her presence was crucial to support them through the traumatic proceedings.
'I knew I wanted to do the right thing, maintain my integrity and stand up for what was right,' she explained. She also cited past NHS scandals, like those in Mid Staffordshire and Morecambe Bay, as evidence that poor leadership directly leads to patient harm. Refusing to leave a bully in charge was a matter of principle.
Her refusal to accept the deal led to her formal suspension, leaving her with no choice but to resign.
The Aftermath and a Call for Reform
While the substantial financial award represents a form of vindication, Dr Gilby admits the three-year legal battle has taken an enormous 'psychological toll,' leaving her feeling isolated and hesitant to enter a hospital again.
Her experience has solidified her support for government proposals to regulate NHS managers. These plans would ban executives who block whistleblowers or are guilty of serious misconduct from working in the health service.
'I now believe that there are people out there who don't have the values that I perhaps naively expect people in public service to have,' she reflected. 'Perhaps mine is over-tuned, but it feels to me that some people have lost theirs altogether or never had one in the first place. And I think that it's more common the higher up you look.'
She expressed disappointment that no senior NHS figure has apologised or sought to learn from her case. Dr Gilby advocates for a regulatory body for NHS executives, similar to the General Medical Council for doctors, to 'protect patients and support non clinically qualified managers.'
'The person who did this to me was not a manager, he was there as a non-executive chair,' she noted. 'But he wanted to step in and manage in a way that was utterly unacceptable and would have resulted in further patient and probably staff harm. It was worth standing up to it, but it would be good if other people didn't have to follow my footsteps.'
A spokesman for the Countess of Chester Hospital stated the tribunal was 'resolved through a mutually agreed settlement.' Ian Haythornthwaite, 66, who resigned on the day the tribunal judgment was published in February 2023, declined to comment when approached.
The news of Dr Gilby's settlement and revelations emerge as prosecutors confirmed that Lucy Letby, now serving a whole life order for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, will face no further charges.
