A Midland hospital worker with an intense phobia of blood and needles is suing the NHS for £140,000 over fears he could be exposed to bleeding patients on the ward.
Andrew Brangwyn couldn’t face “handling patients” and was too petrified to step onto the ward at Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital, a court heard. The occupational therapist says that, despite complaining for years, NHS bosses never did enough to help him cope with his disability.
Mr Brangwyn’s job was to teach carpentry skills to patients, but he always feared they might need their dressings changed whilst he was with them. Bosses told him that he wouldn't be asked to do anything that might trigger his phobia, but his job description, despite being changed six times in just two years, never guaranteed this.
After being asked to attend meetings on the ward, Mr Brangwyn, from Coventry, was so stricken by anxiety he had to go on long-term sick leave in 2012 and was eventually dismissed. He took South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust to an Employment Tribunal, complaining of disability discrimination. The 65-year-old’s claim was rejected - but he’s now been granted permission to fight on in the Court of Appeal.
Lady Justice Gloster said the trust had arguably failed to make reasonable adjustments to cater for his disability.
