A WORCESTER breast cancer victim who claims her employers "wrote her off" because of her illness, has taken her case to a tribunal.

Mother-of-one Liz Zatriqi worked for Misys Financial Systems, based in Buckholt Drive, Warndon, for 14 years, but was made redundant earlier this year.

She told the industrial tribunal in Birmingham yesterday that the firm, in which she had worked her way up to become a department manager, had laid her off after she had further time off when the cancer returned. She is claiming disability discrimination.

But the company denied the 46-year-old's claims. Human resources director Lynne Costelloe said that a strategic review had found the position of quotations manager was unnecessary.

Mrs Zatriqi said the problems started when a second manager was appointed to run the department with her.

"I was told that she was coming in above me, but that we would be working together to run the department - her on overall strategy and me on the day-to-day running," she said.

"She said she didn't intend to interfere with my day-to-day running of the department, but it quickly became apparent that that wasn't the case."

Mrs Zatriqi contracted secondary cancer in summer 2001 and she required further time off work for treatment.

"During that time no one from human resources at Misys Financial Systems contacted me.

"No one asked if there was anything they could do to help me get back into work. I was told to take as much time off as I needed.

"I didn't see until later that it was getting to the point where they didn't care whether I was going to be back or not."

Mrs Zatriqi of Mayfield Avenue, Rainbow Hill, had intended to return to full-time work earlier this year but was asked to attend a meeting about the reorganisation of the department.

She was told that a new automated system and the reallocation of some of her responsibilities meant her position was no longer necessary.

And if no other position were found within the company she would be made redundant.

The tribunal heard that Mrs Zatriqi applied for a job, but was not given an interview. She claims she was not told about a second vacancy.

"At that stage I would have considered anything because I was thinking 'what the hell am I going to do without a job?' " she said.

Mrs Costelloe told the tribunal that three other employees were laid off as a result of the company's strategic review, none of whom were found jobs within the firm.

She insisted that the decision to make Mrs Zatriqi's position redundant was not as a result of the breast cancer.

"It had nothing to do with her illness - the position was no longer necessary. She was treated in the same way as the others."

The case continues.