The Employment Appeals Tribunal has awarded a consultant immunologist over £25,000. Dr Angela Orren, a South African, had worked as an acting consultant immunologist at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, from April 1994 until the end of 1995. She applied unsuccessfully for the full-time post when it was advertised. On hearing that the successful candidate could not take up the permanent position until June of 1996, she offered to continue working for the six months following expiry of her contract. This offer was refused.
The tribunal found the WHB had not acted fairly in rejecting Dr Orren's offer. The board knew it would require an immunologist's services in the intervening period and had given no good reason why the temporary employee should not be retained. It awarded her £25,652, which was the amount she would have earned if she had been employed from January to June 1996.
