Telford doctor was 'bullied' at Shrewsbury pharmacy, hearing told

Mrs Lynudmyla Nod of Hadley, Telford had been employed for six months at the Rowland Pharmacy in Shrewsbury by L.Rowland & Co (Retail) Ltd.

She made legal claims for unfair dismissal and racial discrimination against her former employers at Birmingham Employment Tribunal.

Mrs Nod who came to the UK 10 years ago, alleged in her statement that a manager at the Shrewsbury pharmacy did not like her.

“He treated me in an unprofessional manner, challenged my qualifications and asked if I really was a doctor,” she said. “He said I had been sacked as a doctor in the Ukraine which was not true.”

Mrs Nod who eventually hopes to run her own medical practice in Telford, accused the manager of making uncomplimentary remarks about her Ukrainian background which she complained was racial discrimination.

“He claimed they were jokes which were part of the work scene and that I would have to get used to them,” she said. “They were hurtful and insulting and they made me cry.”

Mrs Nod alleged that she heard the manager tell another employee that “if you strike her with a hammer on the brain it would not improve her.”

Mrs Nod was eventually dismissed.

The firm opposed Mrs Nod’s legal claims, denied that the manager made the alleged remarks and also denied that she was racially discriminated against.

The respondents told the tribunal that she was reluctant to answer the phone or deal with customers because she could not understand what they were saying – an allegation Mrs Nod denied.

The firm also alleged that Mrs Nod was not suitable for the job and that the dismissal decision was fair.

Mrs Nod told the tribunal that she had difficulty putting items away because she had back trouble following a car accident and had produced a doctor’s note confirming her condition.

But the respondents alleged she was able to “stretch her arms” in dealing with prescriptions.

Tribunal judge Mr Ron Broughton is to make a decision at a later date.