Hospital Trust to pay whistleblowers £30k in compensation

The whistleblowers, John Crayton and Thomas Jones, claimed that they were victimised for highlighting the “demeaning” conditions in mortuary services in 2024, and were made the target of derogatory comments and jokes.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Crayton said that porters were asked to transport bodies of people who had been dead for “months and months” without knowing whether they were infected.

In May this year, an employment judge agreed that the porters were being asked to carry out duties above their roles.

The hospital has now been ordered to pay Mr Crayton £2,121 net in compensation for wage loss and £15,000 in compensation for injury to feelings. It must also pay Mr Jones £1,439 net in compensation for wage loss and £11,000 for injury to feelings.

A spokesperson for the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “This case was not about the treatment of people who had died. The Trust accepts the Employment Tribunal's judgment and the award made to the two claimants which was significantly lower than the compensation sought.

“The Trust is committed to ensuring its staff feel able to raise concerns and supported when they do. It has robust arrangements in place, including a local guardian, a network of champions, and dedicated training for managers.”

In 2024, Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the same hospital.

The Countess of Chester Hospital was ranked second-last out of 134 acute hospital trusts in the NHS league tables, released for the first time last September.