Nurse Receives £20,000 Compensation For Back Injury

The Plaintiff, now aged 36 years old sustained an injury to her back during the course of her employment on 15th August 2002. The Plaintiff was employed by The North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust. On 7th June 2007 Patrick Mullarkey of Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors, acting on behalf of the Plaintiff, agreed settlement in the sum of £20,000 plus CRU and costs.

The Plaintiff was employed as a Community Nurse by the Trust. She was required in the course of her duties to attend to patients in their homes at various locations. On the aforementioned date the Plaintiff together with another member of staff attended to a heavy disabled patient in her home in Belfast. The patient was being nursed on an adjustable electronic bed which was defective. As a consequence of same the bed was incapable of being adjusted to the appropriate height to facilitate the safe discharge of nursing procedures. In spite of this the Plaintiff was required in the course of conducting the nursing procedure to support the weight of the patient whilst stooping over the bed. The Plaintiff sustained an injury to her back at that time.

The Plaintiff was referred by her professional organisation, the Royal College of Nursing, to Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors. Proceedings were issued in the High Court on 27th July 2005 and were ultimately listed for hearing on 12th June 2007. Prior to the date of hearing a settlement was negotiated between the Plaintiff and the Defendant in the above terms. The Plaintiff will receive the sum of £20,000 into her hand. The Defendant will also repay to the government a sum equivalent to all benefits received by the Plaintiff as a consequence of the injuries sustained in the course of her employment. The Plaintiff’s costs will also be met.