A Chinese radiology consultant at Barnet Hospital, who was victimised by his bosses and discriminated against racially, has been awarded more than £186,000 in compensation.

An employment tribunal decided last week (April 24) that Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust put Dr Peter Lai into a frightening, baffling and bemusing' situation, and awarded him a total of £186,472.

A written statement from the tribunal panel said: "The injury to feelings was long-lasting and enduring over a period of time, and continues. Everything that he had achieved, everything that he had thought himself to be (in professional and family terms) was put at risk. And it was put at risk suddenly."

Dr Lai was believed to be seeking up to £300,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal in December last year deemed the trust to have racially discriminated against him.

Along with his line manager Dr Adrian Marcus, and consultant surgeon and medical director John Bolton, the trust was judged to have victimised Dr Lai between July 2000 and early 2002 singling his work out for closer scrutiny and questioning the standard of his English.

At a remedy hearing in February, Dr Lai said the humilitation nearly wrecked his marriage. He added that his reputation had been so badly injured he had been forced to leave his private practice at the North London Nuffield Hospital, where he earned almost £6,500 a month.

A spokesman for the trust said it is currently appealing against the findings of the original tribunal.

Francesca Lai, Dr Lai's wife, said: "This has been a very difficult time for us, for the whole family. Yes, we are pleased but it's not over yet."

-From The Edgware Times

May 1, 2003 11:00