Linda Sturdy, a senior NHS manager, has been awarded nearly £190,000 compensation for age discrimination and victimisation.

Mrs Sturdy, who set up the breast screening service for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and had run it for 16 years, was passed over for a new position running the service after the employer realised she was a few years away from retiring. In 2006, when discussing plans for the future structure of the service, Mrs Sturdy mentioned that she would be retiring in 2010. Her manager’s ill-judged response to this was “I didn’t realise you were so old.”

The manager later claimed that this was intended as a compliment and she had simply meant that Mrs Sturdy looked younger than she was. Whatever the intention behind the comments, it highlighted to the Tribunal that age could have been a factor in the decision not to appoint her.

In addition, the Trust’s managers had not been able to explain why they had not given Mrs Sturdy the new position even though she was better qualified, more experienced, had shown dedication and reliability and her work had been exemplary.

In 2009, Mrs Sturdy was awarded £42,000 for injury to feelings and aggravated damages. She has now been awarded a further £147,000 after a hearing to decide on compensation for loss of income and pension.