What is the legal test for summary dismissal of a medical technician?

In Smith v. Dawson, supra, a technician was dismissed after 17 years of service. The judge found that there were no grounds for summary dismissal but that a six months' notice would be adequate in the circumstances. He based that in part on [29 N.S.R. (2d) at p. 289]: … the fact that the employee's work had apparently been deteriorating at the Dawson Hospital, the fact that he was not getting along very well with the staff and that he did actually submit time sheets for unauthorized pay.