An ambulance worker, Paula Smith, is set to receive a £14,000 compensation after successfully challenging her unfair dismissal by the NHS in an employment tribunal. Paula’s dismissal stemmed from an incident where her wife, Stacey, attacked their supervisor, Michala Morton, with a hammer. The attack occurred due to the couple’s belief that Morton was hindering their time off together.
Despite Paula’s lack of involvement in the assault, she was suspended and faced allegations of harassment and threats following her wife’s actions. However, the police eventually dropped the case against her, and she was cleared of any criminal charges. Subsequently, Paula was dismissed from her job, with the NHS expressing concerns about public trust due to her association with the incident.
The tribunal highlighted that Paula’s dismissal was unjustified, emphasizing that her release from bail and the lack of police investigation undermined the grounds for her termination. The judge criticized the Trust for rushing the dismissal process before exploring other options and concluded that Paula’s marriage to the perpetrator should not have been a basis for her dismissal.
Paula’s appeal against her termination was rejected, but the tribunal ruled in her favor, deeming her dismissal unfair. The exact amount of compensation she will receive is yet to be determined. Stacey, who was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison, has since ended her relationship with Paula. The tribunal affirmed that Paula’s dismissal was unwarranted and should be rectified.