Stanley Nurse wins compensation from NHS

Feb 27 2009 By Dan Warburton

A nurse who will never work again after damaging her back while trying to move a faulty hospital bed has won £45,000 in compensation.

Jacqueline Crowe, 46, was forced to leave her job after the accident at South Moor Hospital, in Stanley, County Durham.

Mrs Crowe took legal action and the case was settled with Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust on the first day of the hearing at Newcastle County Court

The hearing was told Mrs Crowe was injured while trying to move the hospital bed to change the sheets.

The bed brake failed to release, so when she pulled the bed towards her she jarred her back and neck, which brought back a previous injury.

She is now suffering from depression and must take strong painkillers every day.

Mrs Crowe, from Stanley, said: ``I worked as a nurse for more than 20 years and enjoyed my career.

``Lifting and handling was a large part of my job and I had been trained in the correct techniques.

``However, the bed’s brake was faulty and the simplest move has led to me being unable to work."

Mrs Crowe took legal action with the help of her trade union Unison.

Liz Twist, North East head of health, said: ``We welcome the compensation from the Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

``The NHS can ill-afford to lose trained nurses and Mrs Crowe should never have been put in this situation in the first place.

``The most common injury suffered by nurses is a back injury.

``Problems like this one can be avoided if the equipment is kept in good repair.

``We would urge all employers to make sure they are abiding by health and safety regulations."

Michelle Reid-Mitchell, from Thompson’s Solicitors, added: ``If the hospital had ensured its equipment was in good working order Mrs Crowe would not have suffered from serious back pain.

``A simple check of equipment could have avoided this accident."

The health trust ``expressed regret" for the incident and wished Mrs Crowe well for the future.

``The trust wishes to express its regret in relation to the damage caused to Jacqueline Crowe," a spokeswoman said.

``The trust accepted partial responsibility in this case with a discount on the damages due to Jacqueline Crowe as a result of contributory negligence.

``The trust hopes that the damages agreed between the parties go some way to compensating Jacqueline Crowe for the injuries sustained and would like to take this opportunity to wish her well for the future."