Can I get compensation? Assaulted at hospital

[Plzstopthisstupidity]

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 the way you worded the incident it does seem like details are missing. You talk about your bum being covered - presumably you were wearing maternity knickers and pads - not glamorous I know but certainly bum-covering - and after the initial birth, you were surely wearing your own nightdress/dressing gown? The hospital compression socks don't cover your bum - they are only calf length so I wonder whether pain medication has interfered with your recollection of events?

If you were being grabbed, sworn at and assaulted in the exact way you've described it's hard to understand how another member of staff didn't intervene.

Obviously something happened to upset you but our minds do place tricks on us - when I was in hospital with my first (c section) a new mum who had a drain in, tore all the tubes out and leapt out of bed in a complete frenzy because she thought a nurse had stolen her baby and was absolutely beside herself when in reality they'd just taken the baby to change her whilst she slept and were on their way back. Everyone was zonked on morphine for the first 1/2 days so it's possible your memory isn't 100% accurate?

She was swearing and said she will fuck me up and called me a bitch. I clearly remember a pair of new parents stood at the little room where you can warm milk up in a microwave staring at us in shock.

She actually manhandled you and yelled in your face and swore and threatened you? This was witnessed by staff and other patients? And she’s still working there??

Er..yeah I think you’d be well within your rights to question that.

OP, have you looked at the nurse's record on the NMC website to see if there have been any previous disciplinary actions against her?

If you don't want to make a complaint to the Trust via PALS, you could contact NMC instead.

Either way, several PP have offered suggestions for action. You might be best served stepping away from this thread, which is clearly upsetting you, and trying to find the resolution you want.

Hi OP,
Have you managed to make any start on tracking down your records? I can imagine it will be a bit long winded especially at this time of year when everyone is gearing down for the xmas break!

I feel the fact that you were given a document to sign shows that something was recorded. This shows that something went on. This is a good start to finding facts.

I think it's possible to look into the facts AND move on. I know that sounds odd, but actually the process of 'doing something' practical and subsequently the knowledge that you tried and didn't hide from it any more can help with the healing. Even if you get nowhere, you stood up and had a go at tracking this down.