Ex-DHSC chief exec denies blocking medical director's media appearances

Legal team questions whether DHSC has 'ambushed' client

The former chief executive of the health department insists she didn't block the medical director from speaking publicly during the Island's first lockdown.

It's as the legal team representing Dr Rosalind Ranson questioned whether it's been 'ambushed' by documents from the Department of Health and Social Care. 

There was a delay to proceedings at the tribunal this morning after the DHSC disclosed more documents overnight.

Dr Ranson's lawyer, Oliver Segal QC, told the panel he reserved the position that the department is ambushing his client by not having disclosed these documents earlier in proceedings.

Once the hearing resumed Kathryn Magson denied blocking Dr Ranson's appearance at a media briefing early in the pandemic but said all communications had to be agreed politically and be in line with Council of Ministers' policy.

Miss Magson's statement described Dr Ranson turning up to a CoMin meeting and demanding to be let in but, during cross examination, she conceded the medical director could have been at government offices to record a video previously agreed with the then-head of communications for government.

The tribunal heard Dr Ranson had been asked to take part in another video, after lockdown lifted in 2020, involving other clinicians but Miss Magson wasn't comfortable with the idea.

The communications executive insisted the production 'wouldn't push boundaries like journalists do' but Miss Magson was worried about the ongoing situation impacting residents at the former Abbotswood Care Home.

Mr Segal accused the ex-CEO of deliberately taking the decision not to include Dr Ranson but she said that wasn't entirely true and that the medical director wasn't treated differently to anyone else.

Miss Magson was also quizzed about Dr Ranson's workload as the medical director had claimed, in her evidence, that the demands on her were unreasonable.

Miss Magson backed claims by the DHSC that Dr Ranson was given extra support which was 'inefficiently consumed'.

When challenged on this she said Dr Ranson tended to work with her team, rather than delegating tasks to individuals, adding that she would have expected to see more outputs from the team.

The tribunal takes a break tomorrow - proceedings will resume on Thursday.