Mr J La v Community Ambulance Service Ltd — 2025

The claimant, an Ambulance Care Assistant employed from 14 November 2005 until 5 August 2024, was summarily dismissed following allegations relating to an incident with a patient, including manual handling failures, failure to report the incident immediately, bringing the respondent into disrepute, and leaving money with the patient (characterised by the respondent as bribery). The tribunal heard the case over two days at Watford by CVP, with liability only being determined.

On unfair dismissal, the tribunal concluded that the respondent had reasonable grounds to believe the claimant was guilty of misconduct, that a reasonable investigation had been carried out, and that dismissal was within the range of reasonable responses. The tribunal acknowledged there was procedural unfairness in making findings against the claimant that had not been investigated or put to him as allegations in the invitation to the disciplinary hearing, but found that in all the circumstances this did not render the dismissal itself unfair.

On wrongful dismissal, the tribunal found that the claimant was guilty of gross misconduct, having made conscious decisions to undertake acts he knew were in breach of the respondent's policies and procedures, and that the respondent was therefore entitled to dismiss him without notice. Both complaints were dismissed.