Chisimdi Nzotta
50-year-old Employment Lawyer Jo Mackie, is taking legal action against a spa house, Center Parcs, after being refused a manicure and massage on her birthday because she had had breast cancer.
The mother of one from south London went to Center Parcs at Longleat in Wiltshire to celebrate her 50th birthday with friends but was told she could not be treated.
She said: “I was turned away when I ticked their little box which said, ‘Have you had cancer in the last two years?’. I said, ‘This is ridiculous’, they said, ‘Really sorry, we are not trained to treat people with cancer’ ”
“I came home early, took it from there and I’m suing them.”
“I would love it if other people with cancer would join this and fight this discrimination. It’s not about money, it’s about the principle. I won’t be discriminated against because I had breast cancer,” she added.
According to the solicitor leading the case, Anna Mazzola, spas that refuse treatment to customers because they have or have had cancer may commit unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
She added: ‘These spas seem to be treating cancer patients and former patients worse than other people in a similar situation. They are directly discriminating against them.’
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