AN outspoken paramedic who fought the county health shake-up has won £56,000 from health chiefs.

Karen Faulkner was awarded the sum from Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust after it admitted unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

Mrs Faulkner was in the frontline of health changes when she warned of a crisis in the service due to the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

And the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP) rep at Kidderminster Ambulance Station felt her stance made her "unpopular" with ambulance chiefs. Karen Faulkner, who has won £56,000 from Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Trust for unfair dismissal.

Mother-of-two Mrs Faulkner, of Ludgate Avenue, Kidderminster, spoke after the end to her three-year battle since she originally brought a claim against the trust for sex discrimination.

She said: "I absolutely loved the job and I am devastated because I feel I was forced to leave.

"The money is not much consolation because I still miss the job but it does give me time to plan for my future.

"I feel the ambulance trust treated me very badly. They didn't have a leg to stand on with this case."

Mrs Faulkner, 43, who spent nine years in the service, had her claim for sex discrimination against the trust settled in August 2001 without an admission of liability.

One of the main provisions of a compromise agreement was she would accept a rostered position at Kidderminster Ambulance Station.

Mrs Faulkner, who had been off work with stress since April 2001, returned to work expecting to take up her post.

However, it became clear within weeks there was no permanent position allocated for her.

She resigned and claimed constructive dismissal and breach of contract.

The matter was due to be heard by an employment tribunal in September but the trust settled three days before.

Mrs Faulkner said: "What hit me hardest was the trust reneged on that compromise agreement.

"It has been a very stressful three years - I'm glad it's all over.

"My husband and two teenage daughters have borne the brunt of my feelings. I lost count of the number of times I cried on the sofa.

"I went from a very confident person to a broken one. But I am determined to put it behind me and look to the future."

She is currently studying an access course to a degree and aims to embark on a new career as a midwife.

Ambulance trust clinical director Brian Chambers said he did not understand Mrs Faulkner's assertion her union role made her unpopular because the union was fully integrated into the trust and members chaired some committees.

He added: "We have learnt lessons from this whole unfortunate episode, mainly about communication.

"We regret the fact that Karen resigned from her job."

APAP chairman Mark Smith dubbed the trust's action "lamentable".

"The trust has come out with egg on its face but this also reflects badly on the service as a whole.

"Hereford and Worcester has lost a bloody good paramedic. Karen was competent and knew the job inside out.

"Not only has she lost her job - she has lost her vocation."