GP wins claim after female doctor called her family 'The Clarkashians'

A GP surgery practice manager is in line for a big compensation payout after a 'gossiping female doctor' likened her family to the Kardashians. 

Catherine Clark, 62, was ridiculed behind her back while she worked at the Gardden Road Surgery, near Wrexham because of her lifestyle and her age. 

Staff branded her daughter and partner 'narcissistic' in WhatsApp messages which they called 'Clarkashian Updates' while referring to Ms Clark as an 'old knacker'. 

Her treatment by staff was described by employment law judge Rachael Harfield as 'degrading and humiliating'.

One message about Mrs Clark read: 'Now trying to dislodge the old knacker but like any decent tumour she has a long root!'

In another WhatsApp message Ms Clarke was compared to an old horse that needed to be put down. 

While a third read: 'Clarkashian update: Mrs Clark's daughter and her partner went for another Covid test yesterday. 

'The man at the testing centre asked "You do know you don't get paid for coming here don't you mate?".'

Ms Clark became aware of the exchanges in December 2021 when a former partner of Dr George Williams, who was the ring leader, got in touch with her. 

She complained to the practice's senior partner about the messages, describing herself as 'devastated' and 'torn in half' by how Dr Williams had described her.

She then went off sick before becoming embroiled in a dispute with the practice about covid vaccination payments that were made to a company she had set up.

After her pleas were ignored she resigned and successfully sued her old colleagues for discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair dismissal.

Ms Clark brought her case at an employment law tribunal in Cardiff, where Judge Harfield heard she was also a patient. 

In August 2020 she made a complaint after it emerged that a colleague had been accessing her medical records to see what prescriptions she had been getting. 

Staff at the clinic were aware that Ms Clark required medication for anxiety but rather than show 'sympathy...looked down on her,' Judge Harfield explained. 

'They were looked down upon, and Ms Clark was labelled as a drug seeker, and living a 'Clarkashian' lifestyle, as being incompetent and too old for her job. 

'The term ‘Clarkashian’ appears to be a reference to the TV programme the Kardashians. 

'We are satisfied the term was used in a derogatory, mocking sense and not in a complimentary manner.

'The Claimant and her family and others associated with them became a source of entertainment and gossip.'

The tribunal was told by Dr Williams' former partner that she had been making disparaging remarks about Ms Clark for several years.

In evidence Dr Williams' former lover explained he was aware that the medical records of Ms Clark's family were being accessed and shared.

Judge Harfield concluded: 'He says that around this time [Dr Williams and another colleague] began to access and share medical records concerning the family.

'We find [Ms Clark] and her family were the source of gossip amongst the staff...that gossip in part related to prescription medications.'

Ms Clark's compensation will be decided at a later date.