THE NHS is facing a massive compensation bill after a hospital refused to reinstate a consultant after a tribunal found she had been unfairly sacked and victimised on the grounds of race.

Dr Feyi Awotona, 50, worked as a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at South Tyneside Hospital from February 1995 until December 1998, when she was sacked for alleged gross misconduct.

But she took the South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust to an employment tribunal that ruled, in April 2002, that she had been unfairly dismissed, discriminated against and victimised on racial grounds.

The tribunal directed her reinstatement but her counsel, Brian Langstaff QC, yesterday told three judges at London's Civil Appeal Court that the NHS trust had refused to do so.

Yesterday, the Appeal Court opened the way for another employment tribunal hearing, expected to take place in June, at which Dr Awotona, of Rothwell Road, Newcastle, will seek compensation.

Mr Langstaff said compensation for her unfair dismissal had already been assessed at more than £148,000. On top of that, the tribunal can make an unlimited award for the racial victimisation she suffered.

Mr Langstaff argued successfully that she should also be able to claim compensation for the loss of family planning consultancy work, for which she used to earn between £8,000 and 9,000 a year.

The Trust was ordered to pay Dr Awotona's £16,000 legal costs.