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!!

@Icopewhenihope Was that the entire purpose of my post? My title says compensation - not even financial compensation, just compensation. Anything.

Then the dozens of messages I have sent around the incident have clearly given information on what I am seeking, how I am
feeling.

Please don’t pretend like you aren’t an unkind person. I truly wonder if you would say that to someone’s face.

The NMC will only be useful if she was a Registered Nurse. There are many others who use the title ‘nurse’ but who hold no professional qualifications or registration. You can search the register yourself if you have her full name.

I think the 'Can I get compensation?' in the title is perhaps clouding the discussion. If it was 'Should I report historic assault?' you'd have possibly received different replies.

@Icopewhenihope Yes, I am very happy for you that you have a stable family that would advocate for you if you had experienced my assault. Truly, that is great for you. It’s great that you would have spoken up, or that the imaginary witnesses in your story would have to. I am sure nothing like my story ever happens in real life. Every rape and assault and murder is dealt with 100% appropriately. You’re totally logical, yes.

nrft but god this comes across so unbearably grabby. Helpfully, this thread would discredit any claim anyway I think....I know with legal stuff/crimes social media can and does, not sure if it could for something like this though.

Why are you lying???

I would like some sort of compensation. Would I get any money in a situation like this

Some people are being very unkind, OP.

Something happened, and I believe you. It's difficult even for you to know exactly what because you were a vulnerable, medicated patient at the time.

If I were in your shoes, the first thing I'd do is a Subject Access Request for your notes and any other documents mentioning you. That will possibly give you more of idea what happened and what records exist. That will inform your next course of action, should you choose to take any.

@laurenlodge My opening question was about money - please can you be specific and explain where i said money or financial compensation or cash or anything specific to monetary compensation?

Op. I experienced a very unpleasant situation in 2019 where I was treated very badly by ambulance staff (actively dismissive of my condition, hostile etc) and when I finally got to hospital it turned out I had sepsis and needed to stay in for several nights on iv antibiotics. I didn't complain at the time as they made me feel so awful. I tried complaining to PALS last year but because so much time had passed there was nothing they could do.

If you have names and positions you might get somewhere but don't hold your breath!

my parents pushed me to call the police but i didn't pursue it at the time

Again.

OP I’m on your side generally but this line isn’t helping you with these people. You’ve made it clear it’s about money, you said ‘can I get any money for this’ in your second post and even said what you would spend the money on. I’d move on from this bit, it isn’t helping you.

@Plzstopthisstupidity you can't really expect people to believe you are so naive as to convince us we were all mistaken that you were after cash. Do whatever you have to to feel better or achieve closure, but you have no hope at all of a payout. Only you know if you have other motivations that will lead you to still pursue an investigation.

" I would like some sort of compensation. Would I get any money in a situation like this?"

This bit OP.

an incident were staff assaulted a patient would be documented in a datix
The nurse should have been reported to HR . There should be a document trail. If staff and manager witnessed this it should be recorded

compensation, unlikely after this time lapse

How would you lie to see this resolve?

Not true. A relative was assaulted by a male nurse and because they were particularly vulnerable at the time the cps decided there wasn’t a strong enough case. As far as the relative knows they are still working there.

@Icopewhenihope Money was ONE of many other things being mentioned. it was not the point nor the purpose of the discussion. i also said before that money came to mind when therapy became unaffordable. how is this grabby? you are extremely disturbed.

@Uricon2 No Uricon, as kind as you are, I commented in response to being told my opening line was about money. Yes, I mentioned money (among other things later) but was it my opening line? Yes or No? Do let me know since you like to be so kind and helpful.

Most people who’ve been in a situation of assault don’t start posting about money. Your original post - intentionally or not - reads grabby.

@TeaKitten I said if I got money it would be for therapy, yes. I didn’t see much wrong with that. I would like therapy, I need therapy and I think everyone needs therapy as it clearly has its benefits. I am upset with being labelled as money grabbing in a post where I am seeking advice and support about an assault.

Money was mentioned in your title, again in your first post and again in a post after that. People are not stupid and no amount of backpedaling will change their minds of your true intention.
Had you not mentioned money at all this thread would have gone very differently.

What were you actually doing at the time. Were you a danger to other patients. I can't imagine a nurse doing this for no reason.

Compensation is widely recognised as a term referring to monetary gain, op, there's no getting away from that!

Anyone getting serious deja vu re the inappropriate ambulance ride thread...?

Me too. Treated with disdain by one nurse after being left shouting for help. Verbally abused and dressing ripped off, taking skin with it., by another. I felt ashamed and tried to make them like me, I suppose as it’s such a vulnerable situation. It took me years to process what happened and now regret not doing anything while it was still fresh. Seeing the replies here I think I understand why.

A nurse, without provocation, attacked you, in front of witnesses, in a public area (is by the nurses station) in a dept that would have to have cctv in these areas, and nothing was done?

Absolutely not buying it, sorry, if it were witnessed in a public area of the hospital with cctv evidence it would have been investigated at the time to the extent you knew about it and the staff member would no longer have a PIN.