A lawyer who was sacked by Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust after allegedly trying to cover up failings in a patient’s care has won more than £100,000 at an employment tribunal.
Board secretary and head of legal services Kate Levy was dismissed in June 2010 after she had asked a doctor to change details about the death of John Moore-Robinson.
Mr Moore-Robinson died after a cycling accident in 2006. He was diagnosed with bruised ribs at Stafford Hospital, where a ruptured spleen was not picked up. He died hours after being sent home with painkillers.
Ms Levy sent a memo to a doctor presiding over a coroner’s report, urging him to “avoid stressing possible failures on the part of the trust” which, she said, might cause further distress to the family and lead to adverse publicity.
She told the Francis inquiry her guiding principle was to act in the best interests of her employer - the trust.
But, at an Employment Tribunal, the trust conceded Ms Levy was wrongfully and unfairly dismissed. She was this week awarded £103,000.
A Mid Staffordshire spokesperson said the trust’s thoughts were with Mr Moore-Robinson’s family, with whom it was in contact.
No comments yet