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GMC taken to employment tribunal for alleged racial discrimination

A senior consultant gynaecologist is suing the GMC for racial discrimination at an employment tribunal.

Joseph Onwude was struck off the medical register by the GMC but says he was ‘vindicated’ by a High Court ruling.

Judge Burgher heard the allegations of racial discrimination at a preliminary hearing on 9 February and scheduled a further preliminary hearing for 26 April, and a substantive hearing for 4 September.

Mr Onwude said he took the action following the High Court’s quashing of the GMC tribunal’s rulings and reinstating him on the medical register.

Mr Onwude qualified as an obstetrician and gynaecologist 29 years ago and has specialised in private practice gynaecology consulting for the past 14 years.

His initial medical training began in Nigeria, where he graduated from Ibadan University.

His specialist training was at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

He took up as consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.

His private practice was previously at Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford and he is now based at the Chelmsford Hospital, Chelmsford.

It comes as the GMC has rejected claims that there was discrimination in its decision to launch the much-publicised High Court bid to strike off junior doctor Hadiza Bawa-Garba from the medical register,

A GMC spokesperson said: ‘Equality and respect for diversity are paramount to the GMC, and the allegation of discrimination is without merit.

‘Dr Onwude’s allegations in this case are strongly refuted by the GMC and we have filed a full defence to the allegations in the Employment Tribunal proceedings. As this claim is currently ongoing, we do not consider it appropriate to make any further comment at this stage.’