Samantha Critchley recovered
£350,000 for John who was injured when he fell from a hospital
window after being admitted to a secure psychiatric
unit.
John had a history of serious mental illness. On the
evening of 10 March 2001 John's family called an ambulance.
He was taken to the accident and emergency
department at the local hospital.
His notes stated that he was suffering from psychosis with
an underlying depression. John was admitted informally to
South Ward 3 which was on the 3rd floor. The main entrance to the
ward was kept locked by staff. The fire door was in need of
repair.
John became increasingly agitated and paranoid during the
following day. He was running wildly all over the ward. At about
18.20hrs, he escaped through the fire door on the ward and ran out
of the ward. He fell through a window on the third floor,
sustaining serious injuries.
We alleged that the nursing staff:
- failed to respond to John's agitated behaviour throughout the
day on 11 March 2001
- failed to administer sedative medication
- failed to ensure that John remained in a side room where he
would not have access to either of the exits from the ward.
In addition the on-call psychiatrist, upon being informed of the
John's behaviour at or about 17.20, failed to examine John
adequately.
As a result of his fall, John suffered serious injuries. He
was in a coma for an extended period of time. He suffered diffuse
brain damage and a fractured hip and shoulder, the latter
preventing him from ever returning to his pre-accident work as
a plasterer.
After protracted negotiations Samantha
Critchley settled the case for £350,000, shortly before
trial.
Following John's injury and due to a number of previous
similar cases within the same trust, a full internal and external
independent inquiry was carried out. One positive outcome is that
the psychiatric ward has now been moved to the ground floor.
For further information or if you have a nursing negligence claim please
call Samantha Critchley on
020 7861 4263 or email samantha.critchley@ffw.com
You can discuss your nursing negligence
claim with any member of our medical
negligence team on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.