A retiring NHS worker was denied a £200 retirement party bonus after 10 years’ service after a pay row.

Diane Amey, of Gander Green Lane, worked for the Henderson Hospital in Sutton until August last year and was expecting a traditional £200 gift provided by the NHS when an employee retires.

The 65-year-old former receptionist and ward clerk decided to retire last summer so she could look after her seriously ill husband Ronald.

Mr Amey died in July, a month before his wife was due to stop work, but Mrs Amey decided to stick to her plans and went ahead with her impending retirement.

But because of a dispute about an overpayment, bosses at South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust (SWLSTG) refused to give her the party money.

Mrs Amey said: “I understand the overpayment meant my annual leave money was cancelled but I think it was really cruel of them to deny me the retirement money.

“But the worst part is that I couldn’t contribute to my own retirement party, which was on Friday.

“I wanted to be part of the party but it felt like I was sponging off the others and felt like it wasn’t my party at all. I just wanted to buy some of my former colleagues a few drinks to celebrate.

“The very least I was expecting was the £200 retirement money. It feels like they are going back on an obligation.”

A spokesman for SWLSTG said: “It is against trust policy to discuss matters concerning its employees in the media. The trust is in discussion with Diane Amey regarding this matter and hopes to reach a satisfactory resolution soon.”