Susan Gilby: A Resilient Leader in the NHS and Advocate for Change
In the ever-challenging world of healthcare, leadership plays a decisive role in shaping culture, improving services, and ensuring patient safety. Among the figures who have stood out in recent years is Susan Gilby, a highly experienced healthcare executive and critical care specialist. With a clinical background as a consultant anaesthetist and intensivist, she rose to some of the most senior leadership roles within the NHS, notably serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust.
Her career, however, has not been defined only by her achievements but also by her courage to speak out when faced with organisational shortcomings. Her resignation and subsequent employment tribunal highlighted significant concerns about governance, whistleblowing protections, and leadership accountability across the NHS. This article explores the career of Dr Susan Gilby, her education, her work across multiple trusts, and the events that brought her into the public eye.
Early Education and Medical Career
Academic Background
Susan Gilby studied Medicine at The University of Manchester, earning her MB.Ch.B in 1992 after six years of rigorous training. Prior to her medical career, she had already completed a degree in Music (Mus.B Hons) at the same university between 1982 and 1985, demonstrating her diverse talents and intellectual breadth.
She also attended Hereford Cathedral School, where her strong academic performance set the foundation for her later professional success.
Clinical Foundations
After graduating in Medicine, Dr Susan Gilby specialised in anaesthesia and intensive care. She worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital between 2005 and 2009. This role allowed her to develop extensive expertise in critical care medicine, an area that would later inform her leadership decisions within hospital trusts.
Her clinical career grounded her with first-hand understanding of patient needs, frontline pressures, and the importance of systems that safeguard patient safety.
Leadership Roles within the NHS
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
In 2009, Susan Gilby stepped into management by becoming Associate Medical Director at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Over more than six years, she honed her leadership skills, working on healthcare strategy, hospital development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Wye Valley NHS Trust
From 2015 to 2017, she served as Executive Medical Director at Wye Valley NHS Trust. This role provided her with significant responsibility over medical governance, clinical leadership, and strategic improvement of hospital services.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Between 2017 and 2018, Dr Gilby worked as Medical Director at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Here, she oversaw vital aspects of clinical performance and reinforced her reputation as a determined and pragmatic leader.
Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust
Appointment and Leadership
In August 2018, Susan Gilby joined the Countess of Chester Hospital as Executive Medical Director. Within a short time, she was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer in September 2018. By March 2019, she was confirmed as Chief Executive Officer of the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust, a position she held until June 2023.
During her tenure, she brought her experience in clinical medicine into executive decision-making, emphasising transparency, accountability, and patient safety. She also promoted continuous improvement and encouraged a culture of openness among clinical staff.
Challenges Faced
The Countess of Chester Trust had already been in the spotlight due to the tragic events surrounding neonatal nurse Lucy Letby. As Chief Executive, Dr Gilby inherited a trust under scrutiny. She sought to strengthen governance, improve investigations into clinical safety concerns, and rebuild public confidence.
Her insistence on thorough reviews and accountability sometimes placed her at odds with other senior leaders, yet her stance reflected her values of honesty and patient-centred care.
Resignation and Employment Tribunal
The Resignation
In December 2022, Susan Gilby resigned, filing a notice of unfair constructive dismissal. She argued that she had been subjected to detrimental treatment following whistleblowing disclosures about the behaviour of the Trust’s leadership, particularly the chair.
Her resignation marked the end of more than four years at the helm of the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust.
Employment Tribunal Outcome
In February 2025, an employment tribunal ruled decisively in her favour. The tribunal concluded that:
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She had been constructively dismissed under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
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Her dismissal was also automatically unfair under Section 103A because it was related to her protected disclosures.
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A covert campaign—dubbed “Project Countess”—had been orchestrated by trust leaders to force her out, including the alleged deletion of internal communications.
The tribunal judgment highlighted serious failures in how whistleblowers are treated within the NHS and reaffirmed the importance of independent, ethical leadership.
A remedies hearing was scheduled for May 2025 to determine compensation.
Legacy and Broader Impact
Whistleblowing and NHS Culture
The case of Dr Susan Gilby underscores systemic problems within the NHS relating to whistleblowing protections. While the organisation promotes transparency, the treatment of executives like Gilby illustrates how speaking out can come at great personal and professional cost.
Her courage, however, sets an example for others in the healthcare system, demonstrating that integrity and patient safety should never be compromised by internal politics.
Public Trust and Patient Safety
By challenging senior leadership and pursuing her case through an employment tribunal, Susan Gilby highlighted how governance issues directly affect patient safety. The scandal at the Countess of Chester, coupled with her own treatment, underscores the necessity for a healthcare culture where transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.
Key Skills and Expertise
Throughout her career, Susan Gilby has demonstrated a wide range of skills:
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Clinical Expertise: Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine, Critical Care.
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Leadership and Strategy: Healthcare policy, hospital governance, team building, and continuous improvement.
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Change Management: Driving cultural transformation in challenging environments.
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Communication and Advocacy: Championing openness, accountability, and fair treatment of whistleblowers.
Conclusion
Susan Gilby is not just a former CEO of the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust, but a powerful example of principled leadership in the NHS. From her early years as a consultant anaesthetist to her role at the top of hospital trusts, she consistently championed patient safety and ethical governance.
Her resignation and subsequent tribunal victory illustrate both the risks and the necessity of standing up against systemic failings. As a critical care specialist, leader, and whistleblower, Dr Susan Gilby has left an indelible mark on the NHS. Her story continues to serve as a reminder that healthcare leadership must prioritise integrity, transparency, and the welfare of patients above all else.
