A CONSULTANT wrongly suspended from hospital for raising safety concerns will have to wait to see if he has a case for aggravated damages.

Dr Ramon Niekrash was left with a £180,000 court bill despite winning a 2010 employment tribunal against South London Healthcare Trust.

In 2008, he was suspended for eight weeks after highlighting his concerns about patient safety and staffing levels at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Dr Niekrash, representing himself at last week’s employment appeal tribunal, wants a fresh hearing called to hear evidence which he claims shows he should be awarded aggravated damages.

But Sally Cowen, representing the trust, told the hearing there were no grounds for this, claiming the consultant urological surgeon wanted another hearing so he could “have a second bite of the cherry”.

A decision will be sent out to both parties in the coming weeks.