Gynaecologist Peter Schlesinger, who had hoped for £185,000 after he was unfairly dismissed, has been awarded £12,900

A GYNAECOLOGIST who was unfairly dismissed by Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust has been awarded £12,900 in compensation but had hoped for £185,000.

Peter Schlesinger, 53, says the settlement is not enough and his lawyers are investigating possible avenues of appeal.

"I feel it doesn't go anywhere near compensating me for my true losses,'' he said.

Currently about to take up a locum post in Swansea, he claims to have lost £185,000 in earnings and expenses, and to have approached more than 100 employers, including some as far away as New Zealand, in his search for work.

The former Princess Margaret Hospital consultant had accused the trust of conspiring against him after he was cleared in November of 1999 of seven charges of indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

He was dismissed from his post shortly afterwards, although the trial judge told him he left the court with no stain on his character.

The trust denied conspiring against him, claiming he was dismissed because colleagues had indicated he was difficult to work with.

An industrial tribunal ruled that he had been unfairly dismissed, but could not return to work with the trust as his conspiracy claims would prevent an "effective working relationship" with colleagues.

Father of four Mr Schlesinger pleaded his case for compensation at a further hearing in Bristol in September, and judgement was reserved.

The tribunal has now announced the sum to be awarded.

Trust spokesman Chris Birdsall said today: "The matter has gone through due process and, as far as we are concerned, that is the end of the issue.

"That being the case, it is not really appropriate to get involved in any further discussion on the matter."

Trust chief executive Lyn Hill-Tout had told an earlier tribunal hearing that two consultants had threatened resignation if Mr Schlesinger returned.

However, Mr Schlesinger said: "The tribunal ruled that I was unfairly and wrongly dismissed by the trust, but said I could not have my job back because I said there had been a conspiracy."

He added: "I seem to be unable to get jobs anywhere except as a locum, and that is taking me away from my children and my fiance.

"The compensation I have got from the trust for their behaviour amounts to £12,900 for the losses incurred in looking for another job that's it."

Although Mr Schlesinger says he is out of pocket to the tune of £185,000, the most he could have received was £52,000 the legal limit on what is payable in such circumstances.

The consultant, who has lately been working as a locum in Bristol, insisted he was not seeking "lots of money", and that he merely wished to recoup his expenses.

He added that his children's private school fees were having to be funded with the aid of the British Medical Association insurance scheme, which he didn't think was fair on the BMA or on him.

At the compensation hearing in September, the trust disputed the job-hunting expenses claimed by Mr Schlesinger.

Its legal team pointed out that he did not have documentary evidence for all of his job applications.

Mr Schlesinger replied: "In the end, it was soul-destroying getting rejections and I would just throw them away."

bhudson@newswilts.co.uk