THE NHS has failed to stop a leading Midland doctor dealing with family planning, contraception and sexual health in Redditch and Bromsgrove from finalising her legal claim for unfair dismissal after making whistle blowing complaints about the way certain services were run.

But Dr Poornima Prabhu complained at Birmingham Employment Tribunal about delays in progressing with her claim against the Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust after the respondents’ application to strike out her case failed.

Dr Prabhu started her legal claim for unfair dismissal nearly a year ago and demanded an explanation at the latest hearing for the delays after complaining that “memories could be fading.”

Tribunal judge David Perry said that two of his panel members had not been available for some time,causing adjournments, and that barrister Mr Tim Sheppard, who is representing the Trust, had been busy with other work.

But he told Dr Prabhu that her case could now be continued over the next eight days after he rejected the respondent’s “strike out” application. A reserved decision is expected.

Dr Prabhu’s work covered the Redditch and Bromsgrove areas under the trust’s Clinical Commissioning Group.

She complained at the latest hearing that she faced detriment after she made her whistle blowing disclosures

Dr Prabhu, who is also an associate specialist and lead clinician, alleged that certain services were not being run appropriately because some staff did not have the knowledge and expertise they should have.

She complained to the General Medical Council about the situation and alleged she was prevented from carrying certain work because of her whistle blowing allegations.

She was on sick leave at one stage and complained she had not been given “the appropriate amount of input to run her service adequately”.

Dr Prabhu accused one doctor of “improper management” and said she had repeatedly asked for a series of meetings to discuss her concerns.

The trust is opposing Dr Prabhu’s legal claim. Mr Sheppard said there had been a breakdown of relationships and trust.

She had denied an accusation of making the disclosures because of self interest.