10 January 2012 #Employment
A former NHS boss has won his claim of racial discrimination and unfair dismissal and been awarded £933,115. Elliot Browne had been employed as a divisional director at Central Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust until 2008 – when his 34-year career came to an abrupt end. The award reflected unfair dismissal, aggravated damages and loss of earnings and pension.
Mr Browne claimed he had been subjected to ‘discriminatory treatment’ for a year before he was dismissed and therefore took the trust to an employment tribunal. Mr Browne’s health suffered as a consequence of his treatment which left him close to a ‘mental breakdown’.
In response, Trust bosses have stated that discrimination did not feature in the case and have appealed the decision. However Mr Browne said that it was “scandalous that this kind of behaviour and culture should exist in an organisation whose prime purpose is to care for others.”
Rachael Maskell, Unite’s Head of Health suggested that the case of Mr Browne was not uncommon within the NHS. She added that employers must establish comprehensive and effective training programmes and human resources’ functions to combat discrimination in the workplace.
A related buddy article is Doctor awarded £4.5 million.