A paediatric nurse with aggressive breast cancer has been dismissed by an NHS trust after nearly 10 months off sick, following chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a mastectomy.
Gemma Crispin, 52, from Ashford, Kent, worked for the NHS for 16 years in total. She said she had always intended to return to work once she recovered. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) dismissed her in April, concluding it could no longer accommodate her absence.
Diagnosis and treatment
Gemma was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer in June last year, which she describes as being just one stage away from stage four. Her cancer was initially inoperable, meaning she had to undergo six rounds of chemotherapy before surgeons could remove her left breast on New Year's Eve. She has since undergone radiotherapy and further chemotherapy, with treatment expected to finish on November 16.
By then, she will have endured a total of 18 rounds of chemotherapy and 15 sessions of radiotherapy. The treatment has taken a devastating toll, with Gemma hospitalised for a week after suffering a severe reaction to one round of chemotherapy.
Dismissal process
Just a week after her mastectomy, her manager contacted her to arrange an informal meeting to discuss her sick leave. They met three weeks after surgery at Dobbies Garden Centre in Ashford, where Gemma was questioned about when she expected to return and "came away feeling a bit uncomfortable".
Feeling pressured about her time away from work, Gemma applied for a voluntary resignation scheme offered by the trust in February, but says she was rejected because she was on sick leave. Then, at a meeting on March 16, just two days before starting radiotherapy, she learned the trust could no longer sustain her absence.
Dispute over dismissal
Her dismissal letter, dated April 17, described her departure as a "mutually agreed end" to her employment. She disputes that description, insisting she never agreed to leave her job. Her dismissal was upheld following an appeal in June.
In correspondence, the trust said occupational health advisers had found her unfit for work in any capacity, while alternative roles and reasonable adjustments had been considered but deemed unviable. A manager promised to review how the case was handled to ensure lessons were learned.
Gemma has since consulted an employment solicitor, who she says believed she had a strong case, but she cannot face the financial and emotional toll of pursuing further action. KCHFT was asked why her departure was described as mutually agreed and whether the promised review had taken place, but the trust did not address those specific questions.
A spokesperson said: "We are unable to comment on individual employment matters. However, we can confirm that Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust always carefully considers all relevant individual information and follows its policies and procedures before reaching decisions about individuals' future employment."
