A GP WHO was sacked while signed off work as she cared for her dying dad has donated the £16,000 compensation she was awarded to an end-of-life charity.

In April last year, Dr Alison Sneddon’s father Bruce was diagnosed with inoperable and terminal cancer.

He moved into Dr Sneddon’s home in North Berwick, where he was looked after by palliative care nurse Linda Thompson.

Dr Sneddon said: “It was surely one of the greatest privileges of my life to journey alongside dad each day during the 11 weeks from diagnosis until his death.

“The grace, gratitude and good humour with which he approached his illness and imminent death was truly inspirational.

“We were very fortunate to have an outstanding local GP and team of district nurses whose support made it possible for my husband, a retired doctor, and me to care for dad at our home right up to the end.”

Mr Sneddon was born in Glasgow and grew up in Crieff before moving to Edinburgh aged 18, meeting and marrying his wife Margo there.

He and Margo moved to Gullane for the first three years of their marriage.

Mr Sneddon became a member of Gullane Golf Cub in 1959 and enjoyed playing there for nearly 60 years – he was made an honorary member after 50 years.

Dr Sneddon was signed off from work at Tranent Medical Practice, on the town’s Loch Road, shortly after her dad’s cancer diagnosis.

In July this year, the practice dismissed her by letter, citing her “level of absence and the inability of the practice to support your long-term absence due to the significant impact this is having”.

Dr Sneddon was awarded £16,000 in compensation by the practice in a private agreement following an employment tribunal hearing. She has now donated all the money to the Marie Curie charity, which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families.

She said: “During the final week of dad’s life, we were immensely grateful for the additional support and care offered to us by Marie Curie nurses and in particular by Linda Thompson. Linda went above and beyond in the care, kindness and compassion she showed to dad, and her experience and professionalism shone through everything she did.

“We will be forever grateful to her for all she did for dad and for us at such a sacred time.”

Ciara Gallagher, head of partnerships and philanthropy at Marie Curie, said: “We were incredibly touched to receive Alison’s generous donation.

“We need to raise £250,000 every month to provide our care and services in Scotland as we have two hospices – one in Edinburgh and the other in Glasgow – as well as a team of Marie Curie nurses looking after terminally ill people and their families in their homes across Scotland.

“From all of us at Marie Curie, I want to thank Alison for her support.”