NHS body spent £100k on ‘car crash’ tribunal cases

An NHS body severely criticised in an employment tribunal spent almost £100,000 on fighting the case and a related action. Documents were not disclosed and an attempt was made to remove the judge at the hearing involving the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB is facing more costs as it prepares for a hearing to decide on damages. It said it was “committed to managing and using public funds efficiently.” The tribunal, sitting in Norwich, found the ICB’s predecessor organisation had constructively dismissed an assistant director, Clive Rennie. The ICB had taken the decision to defend the case but when it came to court, the proceedings took a farcical turn. A draft investigation report was disclosed five days into the proceedings after the NHS initially denied its existence, despite the author sitting in court. The NHS human resources manager who had authored the draft investigation report into Mr Rennie’s grievance, Steve Stavrinou, came in for particular criticism.