A MERRY Hill post office and shop cashier who complained she was sacked after being rushed to hospital with a panic attack has lost a compensation claim for disability discrimination.

But June Wood, of Merry Hill, Brierley Hill, can go ahead with her other compensation claim against Pavan Trading Ltd for unfair dismissal.

Miss Wood, who had been employed by Pavan Trading at their Merry Hill post office and shop for four years, sought Birmingham Employment Tribunal approval at a preliminary hearing to go ahead with a compensation claim for disability discrimination against the respondents at a full tribunal hearing.

She said she suffered from a heart defect which caused her to have chest pains and be breathless.

Miss Wood said the trouble involved a heart valve and she had expected the respondents to make adjustments to help her at work – prompting her claim for disability discrimination.

But she complained that after being rushed to hospital following a panic attack she alleged she was sacked.

Miss Wood said her heart trouble started after she had an operation and she was later treated for chest pains and a chest infection.

She said she was now awaiting another operation.

Tribunal judge Joan Benson said she first had to decide whether Miss Wood was suffering from a disability before announcing whether her case could go ahead.

The respondents opposed the disability discrimination case going ahead and challenged whether her medical condition could be classed as a disability.

Iqbal Mohammed, representing Pavan Trading, said it appeared Miss Wood’s condition did not stop her from carrying out day-to-day activities.

She denied a suggestion by him that she liked going to parties but agreed she had been on a “hen night” event in Benidorm.

Tribunal judge Mrs Benson referred to a medical report which suggested Miss Wood’s condition had been brought on by anxiety and said it appeared she could “do most things” despite her condition.

As a result, Mrs Benson said she did not accept Miss Wood was disabled and rejected her disability discrimination claim.

But she told Miss Wood she could still go ahead with her compensation claim for unfair dismissal at a later date.