AN NHS worker has been awarded almost £12,000 from a Cumbrian NHS trust following an employment tribunal.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, was ordered to pay claimant Mr M Bradley a total of £10,000 in compensation “for injury to feelings” as well as £1,970.41 in interest on the award.

The case related to a discrimination claim where he believed that a health assessment to decide whether he would be able to return to work and full duties was delayed.

The report revealed the claimant was suffering from PTSD.

The case was heard in Manchester on April 20. The tribunal found that the trust “breached its duty to make reasonable adjustments as required by sections 21 and 22 of the Equality Act 2010 in the period from 2 November 2018 until 28 February 2019”.

The report also revealed that the claimant felt the delays had an impact on his health.

It read: “The tribunal understood that the claimant himself attributed greater significance to the delay and contended that it had a significant adverse impact on his health.

“The tribunal has already taken that evidence into account in determining the appropriate level of injury to feelings award."

The hospitals trust did not dispute the fact that the claimant should be paid compensation for injury to his feelings. The tribunal felt the amount awarded should be in the mid-band.

The report added: “In making this award, the tribunal particularly took into account the impact upon the claimant of the delay/breach of the duty to make reasonable adjustments; and in terms of the claimant’s perception of his treatment by the respondent as a result of the delay, something that was particularly important for the claimant with his impairment/disability."

A spokesman for NCIC said: “The Trust acknowledges that this case from a predecessor organisation, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is now concluded.

“The Trust takes the wellbeing of our staff very seriously and it is a priority for our organisation.”