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Original poster

Can I get compensation? Assaulted at hospital

354 replies

Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:28

Good evening Mumsnet

My sister recently announced she is pregnant and it brought back a memory of something I had buried.

5 years ago, I had a C-section. The day after in hospital, when I was recovering, a nurse grabbed me by the neck in a hallway of patients, staff and visitors and threatened me. She verbally and physically assaulted me.

I can’t discuss the reasons behind it but long story short was she verbally abused me in private (my room) and then when she heard me trying to complain, she grabbed me.

The manager of the maternity ward saw this and spoke to me. She apologised and comforted me. I was humiliated, sobbing and traumatised at the time.

I moved on. I still think about it… more so recently.

I was given the nurse’s name and found out that she is still working in the hospital (this was a year ago not sure if she is still there now).

I am starting to feel immensely angry about what happened. Part of me wants to take legal action.

Mumsnet: is there anything I can do? Is it worth even doing anything as it’s been so long since it happened?

just looking for ideas/advice - thank you!!

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 11/12/2023 18:30

Did you file a police report? Report it to PALS? Is the incident documented/recorded anywhere?

Tacotortoise · 11/12/2023 18:30

What is it you are wanting? Is it just money, money and an apology, a prosecution?

Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:33

I didn’t report it at the time. I was having difficulties in my personal life at the time, I remember, and the humiliation of being grabbed in front of other patients stumped me. I don’t think I even went to PALs. Definitely no police report.

My Auntie works at this hospital now and that’s why I guess I have been thinking of it again along with my sister’s pregnancy.

i don’t know what I want. I would like for the nurse to ideally not be around patients. I would like some sort of compensation. Would I get any money in a situation like this?

OP posts:
ErinAoife · 11/12/2023 18:33

If it is something that happened 5 years ago and you did not report it at the time, I would not put a claim for compensation now.

Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:34

I also had a very traumatic birth (I was told my baby might die during the birth or immediately after) and honestly it wasn’t the greatest time of my life.

OP posts:
Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:36

Recently my son has had a few hospital visits and I have noticed myself feeling strangely anxious and upset. Again, I’m just posting this as it comes to mind. Quite a few things I’ve been experiencing lately have pushed me to want to take some sort of action.

The manager offered me an apology but I clearly remember her saying this nurse was known to be problematic, yet no action was taken against her AT ALL. I was told she was temporarily moved to a different ward but that’s it.

OP posts:
Prinnny · 11/12/2023 18:36

So a nurse assaulted you in front of other staff members, patients and visitors and she’s still working there? There’s no way that’s possible!

byteme1011 · 11/12/2023 18:36

It's ultimately your choice, personally I'd call PALs but only you really know if it would help - I don't think it would lead to the said nurse getting a warning or anything else though sorry if that's what you're after

saffronsoup · 11/12/2023 18:36

The nurse manager would have documented it if she witnessed a nurse grabbing and physically assaulting you. Most hospitals have a victim advocacy office where you can at least file a complaint

Petal12 · 11/12/2023 18:37

I think any claim for compensation might be statute barred by now, but that doesn't stop you making a complaint if you’re truly concerned about the nurse being around other patients

FloweryName · 11/12/2023 18:37

Put in a complaint if you want to, but thinking you’re entitled to money for this is grabby and doesn’t come across well. You didn’t lose anything financially out of the (albeit horrible) incident, so there is nothing to financially compensate.

If your pain and suffering was bad enough to warrant a payout, it would also have warranted a complaint at the time and not just because your aunts job and your sisters pregnancy have made you think about it again.

Camorra · 11/12/2023 18:37

What would your loss be? Did you need any treatment after the assault? Was there any evidence?

I'd suggest reporting to PALS in the first instance but I really wouldn't be expecting financial compensation. Even if you had reported at the time, I would expect it to have been criminal charges via the police, with potentially some small compensation via the courts rather than some big payout from the hospital.

Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:37

Trust me, I would not get anything out of lying about this. I have her name on a slip of paper which I recently came across again when going through my child’s baby documents. Full name.

the manager told me they have had problems with her before. I have no idea why nothing was done about it. I was sent home the same evening, if I remember correctly, and then got caught up with the baby and my chaotic personal life and buried the incident in my mind.

OP posts:
ChannelyourinnerElsa · 11/12/2023 18:37

saffronsoup · 11/12/2023 18:36

The nurse manager would have documented it if she witnessed a nurse grabbing and physically assaulting you. Most hospitals have a victim advocacy office where you can at least file a complaint

I agree- if a manager saw this in front of staff and other patients, there would have been an investigation.

LIZS · 11/12/2023 18:38

You can make a claim within 3 years of being aware of an incident. Was it formally recorded at the time? However you could complain to the RCN if they are still registered and ask for a debrief with the Head of Midwifery at the hospital.

Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:39

See! Things are coming back to me now! I distinctly remember the manager asking me to sign something at the time, or at least read over something she had written… so there is a possibility this may have been documented at the time. The manager was nice to me. I remember this happened in a small room, I think it was her office.

OP posts:
BrassOlive · 11/12/2023 18:39

It's a straight up assault, your first port of call should be the police. That should trigger a referral to the nurse's employer and regulator.

I would be very, very surprised if her manager didn't report it at the time though. No way would I be putting my job on the line to protect a nurse who assaults vulnerable post-partum patients.

Qwerty556 · 11/12/2023 18:41

I would be very interested in hearing the other side of story.

strawberry2017 · 11/12/2023 18:42

This is not the type of thing you get money for. It's a shitty situation but not something you would get financially compensated for.
PALs only have a small budget for complaints and realistically you don't have any thing to claim clinical negligence for from what you have said.
If you want to complain because what she did was wrong they by all means do it but realistically it should have been done at the time.
Witnesses will be hard to source after all this time and unless there's proof in the hospital like some sort of records realistically it's now your word against hers.

Original poster
Plzstopthisstupidity · 11/12/2023 18:43

Apologies, I thought I had tagged people automatically when replying. My previous messages were in response to

@Prinnny and @saffronsoup and @ChannelyourinnerElsa

also, @FloweryName I don’t think I am being grabby at all. Not even a bit. I didn’t say I want a big hospital payout. I said I am wondering if I could get compensation for this incident. Having to go back into hospital with my son recently, as I said above, has been extremely unsettling for me.

I didn’t visit my friend when her son was born either (shortly after mine) as I remember being fearful.

not everything needs a financial loss, the incident did affect me on a mental level. I am just discussing it out loud and seeking advice.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 11/12/2023 18:43

Maybe ask for a birth debrief and see if it’s documented on that. A manager dealing with a problematic member of staff would have used that opportunity to discipline the staff member though, they wouldn’t have ignored it. I can’t see any reason why you would get a pay out.

Humbugg · 11/12/2023 18:46

Definitely sounds money grabby

TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/12/2023 18:48

This is not the type of thing you get money for. It's a shitty situation but not something you would get financially compensated for.

This is correct - you are not going to get any money out of this. But if you are concerned that the staff member did not face any sanctions for her actions, you can write to the chief executive and ask what was documented. Give them the date and they will be able to look at the incident report - if events are as you describe, there will be an incident report, which should record the actions taken.

Auntieobem · 11/12/2023 18:51

Who do you think should give you money??? You're out of time for submitting a complaint.

Ravenclaw101 · 11/12/2023 18:52

There surely has to be more to this 🫤