Gibb v Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

All public bodies must exercise their powers in the public interest and in a reasonable manner. If they fail to do so, their actions could be found to be ultra vires (meaning “beyond the powers” – acting beyond their authority). If this is the case, their actions will be void.

Gibb was chief executive of the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust when there were a number of “superbug” outbreaks, resulting in numerous fatalities. There was a significant amount of criticism levelled against the trust’s leadership in the investigations that followed.