Psychiatric nurse receives compensation after being attacked at work
We were contacted by a client (who we will call M) who had been attacked at work.
M was a specialist psychiatric nurse who worked in a secure unit for criminals who had been given hospital sentences rather than prison sentences. M found his job immensely satisfying. He was experienced in his work and took great satisfaction in playing a part in rehabilitating people.
However, one patient took against M and began making a series of targeted threats against him, saying he was going to beat him up or maybe even kill him. M reported these threats (which were extremely specific and made only against M) to his employer, but no action was taken. M was required to continue having unsupported dealings with the patient.
One day the patient took his chance and violently attacked M with fists and cutlery. M suffered cuts and bruises, but of more concern was the enormous knock to his confidence to do his job. This was so severe that M left his position to go and nurse in a different unit, taking a pay cut to do so.
It was against this background that M got in touch with us. We considered what had happened and agreed to represent him in a compensation claim on a No Win – No Fee basis. We submitted details of the claim to the NHS Trust for whom he worked. They denied legal responsibility for our client being attacked at work, saying that the assault was not foreseeable and had come out of the blue.
Given M’s reports to his employer about the threats made specifically against him, we could not accept their defence and issued court proceedings against the NHS Trust. Fortunately, this step encouraged them to be more reasonable, and we were able to agree an out of court settlement of his claim.
If you have suffered injury after being attacked at work then call our free helpline for a case assessment and details of No Win, No Fee funding. Call 0333 888 0408 or send an email to us at info@sleeblackwell.co.uk
