Stroke patients drugged by nurses to ‘keep them quiet’, court hears
The two nurses had worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Last updated 6th Sep 2023
Nurses used sleeping pills to drug patients on a hospital stroke unit to keep them ‘quiet and compliant’, a jury has been told.
Catherine Hudson, 54, and Charlotte Wilmot, 48, are currently on trial at Preston Crown Court over the alleged ill-treatment of patients. Both women worked as nurses on the stroke unit of Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Prosecutor, Peter Wright KC, stated:
“We say the defendants treated patients not with care and compassion, but with contempt.”
He went on to say that the pair of nurses considered patients to be “an imposition, an irritation”.
A lengthy and detailed investigation was launched after a student nurse brought the women’s actions to the attention of authorities in November 2018.
Mr Wight continued:
“The risks to the patients were obvious, but we say they didn’t care.
“They thought it was amusing. It was something which they would brag about or share as a joke on social media with other members of staff who shared their particular brand of humour.”
One of the sedatives said to have been used was Zopiclone, known to be potentially life-threating when used incorrectly.
Hudson, of Coriander Close, Blackpool, denies ill-treating four patients and stealing medicines.
Wilmot, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool, denies encouraging Hudson to sedate one of those patients.
Both defendants have also pleaded not guilty to conspiring to ill-treat another patient.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.