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Doctor accuses Trust of race slur

From the Echo, first published Monday 28th Jun 2004.

A DOCTOR has accused the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS trust of racial discrimination claiming he was sacked because he was a black man.

Dr Adel Abdel Bari claims he was dismissed from his job as a locum doctor at the RBH by a consultant who had made alleged racist comments to other members of staff.

The employment tribunal in Southampton heard claims that Dr Alastair Jeremy Evans, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the trust, had told staff he "threw out the black rubbish doctor."

But Mr Evans told the tribunal he sacked Dr Bari because he had been dismissed from Poole Hospital after he left his bleeper behind when he was on call, putting women and babies at risk.

In his evidence Dr Bari, from Brighton, said he joined the Royal Bournemouth Hospital through an agency on Tuesday March 11, 2003. Two days later he said he was told by a consultant his work was satisfactory and he was asked to stay on for another two weeks.

"They were happy with me. I was asked whether I would be happy to stay for a further two weeks.

"Shortly after I heard that Mr Evans changed his mind and now wished to throw me out because of the previous problems at Poole Hospital."

In his evidence Dr Bari said he later approached Mr Evans on the phone and in person to find out why.

"Mr Evans was very rude and arrogant and showed no respect for me at all."

He added: "I met very special people in the trust and I tried my best to keep my job but I was still thrown out in a very humiliating way in an obvious act of racism."

Talking about the alleged abuse Dr Bari said: "I heard from a theatre staff at Poole Hospital Mr Evans did say he threw out the black rubbish doctor."

But when asked by Elizabeth Melville, for the NHS trust, why the staff nurse who heard the alleged abuse was not giving evidence, Dr Bari said: "Because she would lose her job."

But Mr Evans told the hearing Dr Bari was dismissed following the problem at Poole Hospital.

He added that Dr Bari's behaviour at Poole "did not leave him with any choice" but to terminate his contract.

Mr Evans said: "The allegations are completely unfounded and offensive.

"I work with a mixed group and I have never had allegations like this against me."

He added it was "greatly upsetting on a personal level" and said Dr Bari did not make any racism allegations directly to him when they spoke.

The tribunal members reserved their decision, which will be published later.

First published: June 28

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