A member of an eye hospital's anaesthetic team has told a tribunal that he was unfairly dismissed because he complained that an operation could put a patient at risk.

Ivan Grieve, 47, claims he blew the whistle about the conduct of the medical team in anaesthetising a patient at the West of England Eye Unit, part of the Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust.

An investigation by the trust found that patient safety was never compromised.

Mr Grieve, a former operation department assistant from Totnes in South Devon, yesterday told a hearing in Exeter that his disclosure ultimately led to his sacking in December. The trust responded that he was dismissed after an investigation into his "rude and aggressive" behaviour towards colleagues, poor judgment, ineffective communication, and not fulfilling the role expected of him. He was ultimately sacked over his refusal to attend occupational health sessions to reintegrate into a temporary relocation role while proceedings concluded, after several months off with stress.

Mr Grieve claims he suffered stress as a result of his working environment. He says occupational health was used as a "tool" to undermine him, and as a "stick, taunt and jibe", and was ultimately an "excuse" to sack him. He says he was advised not to attend until all proceedings had concluded.

The trust says the sessions are crucial to ensuring a safe working environment.

Trust solicitor Thomas Kibling said the respondent accepted that Mr Grieve had made a disclosure, and said his initial disciplinary hearing was discarded for not taking it into account, and a new one instigated. But he questioned Mr Grieve's motive in making the complaint, saying he wanted to "get at" his line manager after relations soured. He cited evidence from a consultant as part of the trust investigation into Mr Grieve's behaviour, in which she said he was "vindictive", and had threatened to set faults on anaesthetic machines to "test" clinicians.

Yesterday, Mr Grieve, who is representing himself, denied the claims, and insisted his only concern in making the disclosure was patient safety.

He said the trust had reported him to the police, with allegations that he had tampered with an anaesthetic machine. He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage with intention to endanger life, but was never charged. He says the arrest exacerbated his stress, and believes the report was part of the trust's attempt to intimidate him into leaving his job.

The Western Morning News is unable to report the details surrounding Mr Grieve's whistle-blowing allegation, because the tribunal has imposed an order, in part to protect the patient's identity.

The hearing is expected to conclude today.