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MoD sacked doctor for raising alarm on missing morphine, tribunal hears MoD sacked doctor for raising alarm on missing morphine, tribunal hears
(35 minutes later)
The Ministry of Defence dismissed a hugely experienced doctor to cover up possible criminal activity involving the siphoning off of strong painkillers at an army base, an employment tribunal has been told. The Ministry of Defence dismissed a senior doctor in order to cover up the disappearance of a large quantity of morphine from an army base, an employment tribunal has been told.
After Dr Stephen Frost’s contract was terminated, “Stasi-like” tactics were used to try to “sink him without trace” including suggesting that he was a conspiracy theorist and a Kremlin sympathiser, it was claimed. After Dr Stephen Frost’s contract was terminated, “Stasi-like” tactics were used to try to “sink him without trace”, including suggesting that he was a conspiracy theorist and a Kremlin sympathiser, it was claimed.
Frost, a civilian doctor who worked with the MoD for almost 20 years, has long been a thorn in the side of the establishment after leading a campaign for an inquest on Dr David Kelly, the weapons inspector who was found dead at the height of the Iraq dossier scandal. Frost, a civilian doctor who worked with the MoD for almost 20 years, was long a thorn in the side of the establishment after leading a campaign for an inquest on Dr David Kelly, the weapons inspector who was found dead at the height of the Iraq “dodgy dossier” scandal.
But in his closing submissions to the tribunal in Manchester, Frost’s barrister, John Hendy QC, said his client should be treated as a whistleblower who lost his job and probably his career because the MoD wanted his calls for a police inquiry into the disappearance of the painkillers suppressed. In his closing submissions to the tribunal in Manchester, Frost’s barrister, John Hendy QC, said his client should be treated as a whistleblower who lost his job because the MoD wanted to suppress his calls for a police inquiry into the disappearance of the strong painkillers from Weeton barracks in Lancashire.
Hendy flagged up the fact that Frost’s concerns had gone as far as the desk of the then defence minister Anna Soubry, but she was wrongly told that a full investigation had taken place. Hendy said Frost’s concerns had gone as far as the desk of the then defence minister Anna Soubry, but she was wrongly told that a full investigation had taken place.
At the centre of the case is the disappearance of 2,400mg of powerful morphine sulphate tablets from the medical centre of Weeton barracks in Lancashire. Frost raised concerns about the class A drugs, which went missing before he took up his post at the base, and called for the police to be brought in to find out what had happened to the tablets. He was dismissed by text and email while on holiday in 2013 without being told why his contract was being terminated. Frost raised concerns about 2,400mg of the class A drug that went missing from Weeton before he took up his post and wanted to tell the police about the tablets.
He was dismissed by text and email while on holiday in 2013 without being told why.
Hendy said: “The only explanation of why there was no inquiry into the truth of what happened to the drugs is that the MoD … did not want such an inquiry, the outcome of which could be damaging to Weeton and MoD management.Hendy said: “The only explanation of why there was no inquiry into the truth of what happened to the drugs is that the MoD … did not want such an inquiry, the outcome of which could be damaging to Weeton and MoD management.
“The only person who had called for such an inquiry and supplied information tending to show that criminal offences … might have occurred was Dr Frost.”“The only person who had called for such an inquiry and supplied information tending to show that criminal offences … might have occurred was Dr Frost.”
Hendy said Frost had nothing to do with the drugs. “Nonetheless he lost his job and probably his career. The question is why?”Hendy said Frost had nothing to do with the drugs. “Nonetheless he lost his job and probably his career. The question is why?”
Frost’s barrister reminded the tribunal of what he called “malicious” emails written by senior officers after he was dismissed. Frost’s barrister reminded the tribunal of what he called “malicious” emails written by senior officers after he was dismissed. He said: “These illustrate the animus of the MoD towards Dr Frost, an animus which can only reasonably be explained by the desire to remove a whistleblower.
He said: “These … illustrate the animus of the MoD towards Dr Frost, an animus which can only reasonably be explained by the desire to remove a whistleblower.
On Frost’s stance towards Kelly, Hendy said his was a view “widely shared in the legal community, especially in the light of the Chilcot inquiry report on other deceptions and concealment by the then government in the run-up to the Iraq war”.On Frost’s stance towards Kelly, Hendy said his was a view “widely shared in the legal community, especially in the light of the Chilcot inquiry report on other deceptions and concealment by the then government in the run-up to the Iraq war”.
During the tribunal Frost was accused by the MoD of fabricating evidence and described as “vague, evasive and contradictory”. Ashley Serr, for the MoD, said it was wrong to suggest there was an attempt to “hoodwink” the authorities over the morphine sulphate tablets. During the tribunal, Frost was accused by the MoD of fabricating evidence and described as “vague, evasive and contradictory”. Ashley Serr, for the MoD, said it was wrong to suggest there was an attempt to “hoodwink” the authorities over the morphine sulphate tablets.
Outside the tribunal, the campaign group Whistleblowers UK criticised the MoD for its approach to the case.Outside the tribunal, the campaign group Whistleblowers UK criticised the MoD for its approach to the case.
It said: “Dr Frost’s fight to address the injustice done to him has taken over three years to bring to court. The case is yet another example of an ingrained determination on the part of our public sector institutions to silence and punish the whistleblower, rather than confront the wrongdoing that he or she may have exposed.It said: “Dr Frost’s fight to address the injustice done to him has taken over three years to bring to court. The case is yet another example of an ingrained determination on the part of our public sector institutions to silence and punish the whistleblower, rather than confront the wrongdoing that he or she may have exposed.
“These institutions spend untold amounts of taxpayers’ money – without any real accountability – pursuing policies of victimisation and retaliation against those who can ill afford to fight back.“These institutions spend untold amounts of taxpayers’ money – without any real accountability – pursuing policies of victimisation and retaliation against those who can ill afford to fight back.
“This case is highlights the extreme lengths to which employers can and will go to avoid dealing with serious allegations of internal wrongdoing, using the tactic of depriving someone of his livelihood and besmirching of their character.“This case is highlights the extreme lengths to which employers can and will go to avoid dealing with serious allegations of internal wrongdoing, using the tactic of depriving someone of his livelihood and besmirching of their character.
“During this case, Dr Frost has had to face down many cruel and crude attempts to cast doubt on his integrity. This really has been a case of David versus Goliath.“During this case, Dr Frost has had to face down many cruel and crude attempts to cast doubt on his integrity. This really has been a case of David versus Goliath.
“It is troubling, and of significant public interest, that the same vigour with which they have sought to ruin Dr Frost has not been applied to establishing the truth behind the apparent ‘disappearance’ of a significant quantity of class A drugs.”“It is troubling, and of significant public interest, that the same vigour with which they have sought to ruin Dr Frost has not been applied to establishing the truth behind the apparent ‘disappearance’ of a significant quantity of class A drugs.”
Judgment on the case will be handed down later this year. If he wins, Frost could be in line for substantial damages.Judgment on the case will be handed down later this year. If he wins, Frost could be in line for substantial damages.