An ambulance worker who was sacked after her wife tried to murder their boss with a hammer is in line for compensation after winning an unfair dismissal claim against the NHS trust that employed her.
Paula Smith, 56, worked for the North West Ambulance Service Trust as an Ambulance Care Assistant at the Oldham Ambulance Station. Her wife Stacey attacked supervisor Michala Morton with a hammer outside her home in November 2023. Paula was arrested on suspicion of harassment and threats to kill but was later cleared by police.
An employment tribunal in Manchester found that Paula was unfairly dismissed. The trust had argued that her association with the incident undermined public trust, but the tribunal ruled that she had no involvement in the attack and had been treated unjustly.
Paula is now expected to receive at least £14,000 in compensation. Stacey Smith was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
