A PRACTICE manager has won almost £300,000 in a discrimination claim against her doctor bosses after they sacked her for falling pregnant.

Naomi Hefford, who worked at Southend’s Queensway Surgery sued her employers for pregnancy discrimination, winning £294,372.72.

It was concluded the reason, or the principle reason, for her dismissal was her pregnancy.

The tribunal heard Mrs Hefford overheard partners discussing sacking her and what excuse they could use.

Mrs Hefford was fired by email while in hospital shortly before giving birth to her daughter.

She began work at the surgery in November 2017, and during the hearing she said she was asked whether she had children or was planning to have them.

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Partners at the surgery denied the question was asked, however a year later Mrs Hefford announced her pregnancy.

Three days later she overheard doctors declaring they need to “focus on sacking her”.

The tribunal judgements said: “Her recollection was that the words were these: ‘We need to focus now. We need to focus on sacking her and then steadying the ship because that’s going to take up an awful lot of time’.

“(She) also explained that she had heard the female voice saying that ‘If we are going to do this what will be our excuse?’.

“It was that point (she) says she became very upset and ran away because she was scared that the people in the room were going to hear her.”

The tribunal hearing found that the partners and bosses had decided to dismiss the Mrs Hefford by January 2019 at the latest.

The surgery had argued her dismissal was based on four allegations of gross misconduct.

The tribunal ruled that no misconduct occurred.

The report concluded: “The principal reason for the claimant’s dismissal was her pregnancy. We have found that the concerns about the claimant’s conduct were trivial up to the date on which she announced her pregnancy. Thereafter, a meeting took place which discussed her potential dismissal.

“The process from then on which ultimately led to her dismissal was connected to her pregnancy. This was the catalyst that started the chain of events. Her claim for automatically unfair dismissal succeeds.”