Nurse Gets 7 Years for Drugging Patients

Catherine Hudson, 54, was found guilty of giving unprescribed sedatives to two patients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 2017 and 2018. She also worked with Charlotte Wilmot, 48, to sedate a third patient. As a result, Hudson was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison, while Wilmot received a three-year sentence. This case shocked many, showing a serious betrayal of trust by two healthcare workers.

'Dysfunctional System'

In November 2018, hospital leaders called the police after a student nurse on a work placement reported that Catherine Hudson, 54, suggested giving an elderly patient, Aileen Scott, unprescribed sleeping pills called Zopiclone. The nurse became even more concerned when Hudson said, "Well, she's got a DNAR (do not attempt resuscitation order) in place, so she wouldn't be resuscitated if she died or if something went wrong," as reported by The Guardian. The student nurse was reportedly "shocked" when Hudson took a strip of Zopiclone from her pocket and gave the sedative to the patient. Zopiclone, a class C controlled drug, can be very dangerous if given to seriously ill patients, the court in Preston, England was told. During the trial, evidence showed that the stroke ward had a "dysfunctional" system for handling drugs. Staff had easy access to controlled drugs and medication, which led to widespread theft by some workers.

One Victim's Story

After suffering a stroke in 2018 that resulted in the left side of her body being paralyzed, Aileen Scott was given Zopiclone. Her son, 76-year-old Brian Scott, who said his mother was too unwell to attend court, called Hudson "pure evil" in his personal statement. Looking directly at Hudson in the dock, Scott said, "The way you spoke about them is unbelievable and nothing short of wicked and pure evil. To this day, my mum is scared to go to the hospital. Why? Because of the treatment she received from Catherine Hudson and others at Blackpool. This will haunt us for the rest of our lives," Brian Scott said in court, as reported by The Guardian.

Troubling WhatsApp^® Messages

Prosecutors said the ward had created "a culture of abuse" after police looked into WhatsApp messages between the two defendants and other workers on the ward, as reported by The Guardian. In one message, Hudson wrote: "What a lovely day I have had in blue bay today. Sedated all the troublemakers lol xxx." In another, she said: "I sedated one of them to within an inch of her life lol. Bet she's flat for a week haha xxx." One message about a patient said: "I'm going to kill bed 5 xxx," and Wilmot replied, "Pmsl (p****** myself laughing) well tonight sedate him to high heaven lol xxx." Hudson and Wilmot claimed in their testimony that the messages were just "banter" and weren't meant seriously. They said it was a way for them to vent about the frustration they felt working in an understaffed department.

Other Offenses

Hudson was also found guilty of stealing Mebeverine, a medication meant for a patient at the end of their life. Earlier, she admitted to working with other colleagues to steal drugs, including Zopiclone, and to another charge of trying to cover up their actions. Wilmot was convicted of encouraging Hudson to mistreat a patient and also admitted to working with her to steal medication from the hospital. Hudson's boyfriend, 46-year-old Marek Grabianowski, pleaded guilty earlier this year to helping her steal Zopiclone and other medications, as well as trying to cover up their crimes by getting rid of evidence.

Judge's Remarks

Judge Robert Altham said, "The defendants who were supposed to care for and protect the patients instead mistreated them. These patients were extremely vulnerable, and the defendants took advantage of them for an easy shift, for fun, and to feel powerful over them." He also praised the whistleblowing nurse, whose name the prosecution asked not to be revealed, for her bravery. The judge said, "It was only because of her courage and sense of responsibility that what was happening on the ward was brought to light and stopped," as reported by The Guardian.

Hudson's conviction and sentencing serve as a reminder of the serious consequences for mistreating patients who trust healthcare workers to care for them. Hudson was found guilty of drugging patients and stealing medication, actions that betrayed her role as a caregiver. Her actions caused harm to vulnerable patients, and this case highlights the importance of holding healthcare professionals accountable and protecting patients from abuse.

References: Blackpool Nurse and Colleague Jailed Over Drugging Patients | Blackpool Nurse Who Drugged Patients for 'Easy Life' Jailed for 7 Years