A doctor has won a £4.5 million settlement after she was victorious in her employment law case.

Dr Eva Michalak suffered race and sex discrimination at Pontefract General Infirmary, a tribunal in Leeds ruled.

As a result, she has been awarded £4.5 million and Julia Squire, chief executive at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, made a public apology.

"We have only just received the judge's decision on the compensation and this is based on very complex and lengthy calculations," she said following the decision.

Ms Squire added any decision made by the trust will put patient care at the forefront.

Dr Michalik, who is of Polish origin, was said to be the subject of a plan to oust her when she was seven months pregnant in March 2003.

The Trades Union Congress recently criticised the coalition government over its plan to make people pay a fee to launch an employment law case at a tribunal.