Grievance process | NHS nurse wins unfair dismissal tribunal after bosses failed to act on bullying concerns

A nurse who was bullied at work - including being deliberately left out of a tea round by a colleague who admitted “I don’t like you” - has won a claim for unfair constructive dismissal against an NHS Trust.

Diabetes nurse specialist Susan Hamilton, who joined Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2012, resigned in January 2022, citing "cruel bullying behaviours" and a "total breakdown of trust and confidence" due to management failures in addressing her concerns.

The tribunal, held in London, found her claim well-founded and awarded her £41,000 in compensation.

Years of workplace conflict

The dispute stemmed from a 2018 incident when Hamilton questioned the competency of her colleague, Abdool Nayeck, regarding a patient's treatment. Following this, Hamilton described a pattern of "targeted and intimidating behaviour" by Nayeck, including ignoring her morning greetings, facing away when she spoke in meetings, and excluding her from tea rounds.