Sacked doctor to return to work

Dr Feyi Awotona will soon be back at work

A doctor who lost her job six years ago has won her battle to go back to work.

Consultant obstetrician Feyi Awotona, 49, was sacked from South Tyneside District Hospital in 1998.

But even though an industrial tribunal ruled her sacking was unfair 17 months ago, South Tyneside Health Care Trust refused to take her back.

Now after going back to a Newcastle tribunal Dr Awotona, of Gosforth, has thrashed out a deal with the trust which means she can return to work.

Serving the people

Dr Awotona was due to return to work last year, but trust managers said they could not allow this as other senior doctors at the South Shields hospital had threatened to resign.

She will now undergo refresher training at a different hospital before returning to South Tyneside District Hospital.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Dr Awotona, said: "Six years of one's life, six year's of the taxpayers money all wasted, and all for what?

"I am tired of waiting - this is time that I could have spent serving the people of South Tyneside. "

A statement released on behalf of the trust said it was looking forward to welcoming Dr Awotona back to work.

It now faces a legal bill, estimated to be about £1m, and will also have to pay Dr Awotona compensation.

Dr Awotona, from Gosforth, Newcastle, was sacked for "gross personal misconduct" by the trust.

But an industrial tribunal in April last year, found she had been dismissed because she had been collecting evidence against her bosses for a racial discrimination claim.