Doctor who was too anxious to drive on busy roads wins nearly £100,000

A health care provider who was too anxious to drive on busy roads or motorways has gained nearly £100,000 after the NHS tried to make her take a job 17 miles from her dwelling city.

Dr Madhvi Verma efficiently sued Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for incapacity discrimination and has been awarded £98,849 following a compensation listening to in Manchester. 

The physician, a specialist in sexual well being who suffered from decrease again ache and sciatica, had been working for the belief since 2006. She was based mostly on the genitourinary clinic on the Whitegate Drive Health Centre from 2011 till 2017, only a ten minute stroll from her dwelling. 

Having been off work for 2 years as a result of work stress, Dr Verma needed to return to a full-time position based mostly solely on the centre that did not embrace night time shifts, after well being studies concluded she had difficulties driving lengthy distances as a result of her involvement in a ‘close to miss’ as passenger. 

The specialist was as a substitute supplied a piece plan which concerned night work and required being based mostly in Preston, which is a 40 minute drive from her dwelling, the listening to was informed. 

Dr Verma was based mostly on the genitourinary clinic on the Whitegate Drive Health Centre from 2011 till 2017, only a ten minute stroll from her dwelling

Dr Verma was ‘upset’ concerning the plans, which additionally required her to work at a day clinic in Burnley, because the belief offered taxis for her as she didn’t wish to drive and complained concerning the preparations, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal concluded the NHS belief ‘failed in its responsibility to make cheap changes’ for her situations. 

Employment choose Mark Leach stated: ‘Dr Verma could be at an obstacle if required to undertake this journey [to Preston Royal Hospital], by automotive regularly, both as a passenger or a driver. There is not any cheap different to journey by automotive.

‘She could be put at an obstacle if required to work a night shift, even the place she had not been required to fulfil a full working day earlier than then.’

A lot of occupational well being assessments have been carried out as a part of her ‘return-to-work technique’, the tribunal heard.

The well being studies concluded Dr Verma had difficulties driving distances, and wouldn’t be capable of work within the evenings due to her again ache, which she took painkillers for. 

She didn’t like driving on ‘unfamiliar routes’ as a result of she was affected by nervousness after being concerned in a ‘close to miss’ as a passenger whereas her husband was driving an employment tribunal heard 

One occupational well being report learn: ‘Dr Verma is match to drive a automotive and reported driving on ‘acquainted routes inside Blackpool’.

‘However, Dr Verma expressed that she doesn’t really feel assured driving a automotive on “motorways or A roads”.

‘She reported nervousness surrounding a street visitors collision that occurred a few years in the past.’

Another report acknowledged that ‘the earlier street visitors accident has made driving on busy roads tough’.

The listening to was informed that such journeys exacerbated her again ache and ‘sitting in a automotive for extended intervals is problematic for [Dr Verma]’.

She started an additional interval of illness absence in August 2021, and has not returned to work since, the panel heard.