Legal news

"Whistle blower" wins over £1 million in compensation

Jonathan Winston Jonathan Winston
1 min read

A former hospital boss who was sacked after opposing plans to transfer some cancer services has been awarded £1.2m in compensation.

John Watkinson, who was chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), was sacked in 2009. He claimed that this was because he had argued against plans to move some cancer services from Cornwall to Devon.

The employment tribunal into his dismissal ruled that that the decision taken by the trust was ‘substantively unfair’ as Mr Watkinson was about to reveal legal advice which suggested that the trust should have held a public consultation before moving services to Plymouth. The RCHT admitted that it unfairly dismissed Mr Watkinson but is appealing against the ruling that their former chief executive was a whistle blower.

Last month the Independent Reconfiguration Panel approved the transfer of services from Cornwall to Devon, saying that it was in the patients’ best interests as it would provide a better standard of care. The move was also supported by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

More Winston Solicitors news

Client feedback

My claim was dealt with professionally and honestly. I am very pleased with the successful outcome. Thank you.
Anon
Efficient and friendly service. Would recommend!
Anon, United Kingdom
Stacey was most helpful in my case
Anon, United Kingdom
James' advice was valuable. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area, and his advice and guidance were much appreciated. I would highly recommend him.
Anon, United Kingdom
We recently worked with Leasa Foster at Winston Solicitors as our solicitor for purchasing our new home, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Leasa was incredibly professional, thorough, and proactive throughout the entire process. She kept us informed at every stage, explained everything clearly, and always responded quickly to our questions — no matter how small.Buying a house can be stressful, but Leasa made the whole journey smooth and straightforward. Her attention to detail and calm, reassuring approach gave us complete confidence that we were in safe hands.We are truly grateful for her support and highly recommend Leasa Foster and Winston Solicitors to anyone looking for an efficient and reliable conveyancing solicitor.
Pranjali
Very handy as a local north Leeds firm, no need to travel to Leeds. Understood exactly what we required and prepared the documents carefully and quickly. Kept us informed as to progress throughout. I would recommend them for any private client work.
Michael
Didn’t have a single issue with Keertan, she was lovely and explained the process very clearly. Kept me updated at every stage and was very helpful.
Hope
I recently used Winston to help with the purchase of my new home. From start to finish, the service was excellent. Leads Foster was professional, efficient, and always kept me informed throughout the process. Every question I had was answered promptly, and everything was explained in a way that was easy to understand. The whole transaction went smoothly and on time, with no hidden surprises. I really appreciated the clear communication and friendly approach. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy solicitor.
Pranjali
Contact Jonathan