An ambulance worker, Paula Smith, is set to receive a £14,000 compensation after winning an unfair dismissal claim against the NHS. Her dismissal came after her wife, Stacey, attacked their supervisor, Michala Morton, with a hammer following a dispute over time off. Despite police confirming Paula’s innocence in the incident, she was terminated by the NHS trust she worked for.
Paula, a 56-year-old Ambulance Care Assistant at the North West Ambulance Service Trust, had been working in patient transport for 26 years. She and her wife, Stacey, who also worked in patient transport, wanted to coordinate their schedules to have time off together. However, tensions arose when they believed Michala was hindering their requests.
The situation escalated when Stacey assaulted Michala with a hammer in November 2023. Paula, having no involvement in the attack, was later arrested on harassment and threats allegations related to the incident. Despite being released with no charges, the trust suspended her pending an investigation.
After a tribunal ruled her dismissal unfair, Paula’s appeal was rejected. Her wife, Stacey, was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The tribunal found that Paula’s dismissal was solely due to her association with Stacey and not based on her actions. The exact compensation amount for Paula is yet to be determined.