Wakefield & Pontefract Community Health NHS Trust v Hodgson & Ors [1996] UKEAT 489_96_1012 (10 December 1996)

Wakefield & Pontefract Community Health NHS Trust v Hodgson & Ors [1996] UKEAT 489_96_1012 (10 December 1996)

Requiring the applicants, who were contractually engaged for psychiatric nursing, to work in subnormal nursing at Fieldhead Hospital constituted a fundamental breach of contract, justifying their resignations as constructive dismissals.

Citation
[1996] UKEAT 489_96_1012
Parties
Applicants: Hodgson, Walker, Cunnane, Donohoe and Padden; Respondent: Wakefield & Pontefract Community Health
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
10 December 1996
Procedural Posture
Employment Appeal / Appeal and Cross Appeal From Industrial Tribunal
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Constructive Dismissal, Breach of Contract, Fundamental Breach, Employment Contracts, Change of Work Duties

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Hodgson, Walker, Cunnane, Donohoe and Padden

Applicants

Wakefield & Pontefract Community Health

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Employment Appeal / Appeal and Cross Appeal From Industrial Tribunal

  1. 1 Whether requiring psychiatric nurses to work in subnormal nursing constituted a fundamental breach of contract
  2. 2 Whether such breach amounted to constructive dismissal

Ratio Decidendi

Requiring the applicants, who were contractually engaged for psychiatric nursing, to work in subnormal nursing at Fieldhead Hospital constituted a fundamental breach of contract, justifying their resignations as constructive dismissals.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal by Wakefield & Pontefract Community Health is dismissed.