GP surgery manager wins £142k after gossiping boss called her 'an old knacker'

Wales Online

17 hours ago

GP surgery manager wins £142k after gossiping boss called her 'an old knacker'
The doctor saw her colleague's family as a 'source of entertainment and gossip' and likened them to the Kardashians
Gardden Road surgery in Wrexham
(Image: Google )
The former manager of a GP surgery has won more than £142,000 in compensation after one of her bosses called her an "old knacker" and her daughter a "fat p***k".
An employment tribunal heard Dr George Williams – a female GP who is one of the two partners at Gardden Road surgery in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham – described then-practice manager Catherine Clark, 62, and her family as "the Clarkashians" in reference to the Kardashians, an American family of celebrities known for their reality TV show. The judge found Dr Williams and others at the practice "looked down" on Ms Clark as a "source of entertainment and gossip".
Dr Williams gossiped about the manager's "Clarkashian" lifestyle and felt she was "incompetent and too old for her job". At one point the GP wrote to her then-boyfriend: 'Now trying to dislodge the old knacker but like any decent tumour she has a long root!'
Employment judge Rachel Harfield said this was harassment related to age and that it was "a reference to an old horse that needed to be put down in that the claimant should no longer work there".
When Ms Clark found out such messages had been sent behind her back she was "heartbroken". She had thought Dr Williams was "a very loved and trusted friend" and had confided in her about experiencing anxiety and depression.
Ms Clark was prescribed diazepam for those issues but would later learn she had been labelled a "drug-seeker" in WhatsApp messages between surgery colleagues.
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Dr Williams had also written messages describing Ms Clark's daughter as a "fat p***k" and another family member as "10 pints". The judge said there was no "reasonable and proper cause" for such language.
In one conversation she wrote a message about Ms Clark's daughter and another family member getting a Covid test starting with the words: "Clarkashian update."
After breaking up with Dr Williams in acrimonious circumstances the GP's ex-boyfriend contacted Ms Clark in December 2021 and informed her what had been said behind her back. He described his ex as having an "obsession" with Ms Clark and her family.
Ms Clark said she cried for days after learning about the messages and felt devastated. She made complaints about her treatment but felt these were poorly handled by Gardden Road surgery so she resigned and sued the practice.
The judge found that Dr Williams and other staff engaged in "unkind" gossip about Ms Clark including about her prescription medications.
Dr Williams claimed the "old knacker" comment was not intended to be derogatory, telling the court she referred to her own mum as "old dear" in an affectionate way.
But Judge Harfield said: "We wholly reject that argument – it is a different term and a different phrase said in a wholly different context."
The judge upheld claims of constructive unfair dismissal and harassment related to age and disability – as Ms Clark was managing a long-term health condition – as well as discrimination. The surgery was also found to have victimised her by failing to take action against Dr Williams after Ms Clark brought a grievance.
Judge Harfield found the surgery created a "intimidating, degrading, humiliating, and offensive" environment for Ms Clark.
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She awarded a remedy of £142,803 including £60,873 for financial losses, £32,550 for injury to feelings, and £16,844 for unfair dismissal.
When WalesOnline contacted the surgery for comment the call was twice abruptly ended while our reporter was speaking. On our third attempt an employee said the practice did not wish to comment.