City bus driver wins case

A Dundee bus driver who was sacked after losing her licence following a blackout was unfairly dismissed, a tribunal has ruled.

Vera Paterson, 36, was employed as a driver with Xplore Dundee from April 2012 until September 2017 – at which point the bus firm terminated her employment after she disclosed she had suffered a blackout at home.

The incident led Ms Paterson, of Dickson Avenue, Dundee, to take the firm to an employment tribunal, which ruled that she had been unfairly dismissed and ordered Xplore to reinstate her.

The tribunal heard Ms Paterson told Xplore she had “lost consciousness” while at home – and her GP referred her for further tests. The investigation failed to find a root cause for the incident.

On June 23 last year she was told she wouldn’t be able to drive until a letter was received from her GP.

Ms Paterson’s GP said she was fit for work, but refused to sanction her driving public transport.

The DVLA said her licence had been revoked in July, recommending 12 months off driving.

Ms Paterson’s GP then contacted the DVLA to inform them that she had “no risk factors for seizure”. However, Xplore sacked her.

She lodged an appeal with Xplore, but the original decision was upheld. However, on October 5, the DVLA informed Ms Paterson it had reviewed the case and she satisfied medical standards for safe driving.

She then launched proceedings to get her job back and Judge Chris Lucas ruled in her favour.