Blackpool nurse's ill-treatment of mum haunts us - victim's son

Hudson was convicted after a trial at Preston Crown Court

A nurse's ill-treatment of a woman who had been paralysed by a stroke will "haunt" her family for the rest of their lives, a court has heard.

Catherine Hudson was convicted in October of giving an unprescribed sedative, Zopiclone, to Aileen Scott, 76, to keep her "quiet and compliant" .

The jury heard it was with the intention of an "easy life" on shifts at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Hudson, 54, was also found guilty of illegally drugging a second patient.

She was also convicted at Preston Crown Court of conspiring with a junior colleague, Charlotte Wilmot, 48, to administer a sedative to a third.

At Hudson's sentencing hearing, Ms Scott's son, Brian, turned to her in the dock and said: "The way you spoke about patients is beyond belief and nothing short of wicked and pure evil.

"Thanks to the bravery of a student nurse in highlighting you and your evil and uncaring ways, it has most likely saved my mum's life."

'Culture of abuse'

Police were called in November 2018 to investigate after the whistleblowing student nurse who was on a work placement said Hudson had suggested administering Zopiclone, a class C controlled drug, to a patient.

The student nurse was further troubled when Hudson said: "Well she's got a DNAR [do not attempt resuscitation] in place so she wouldn't be opened up if she died or like if it came to any harm."

Zopiclone was potentially life-threatening if given inappropriately to acutely unwell patients, the court heard.

During his victim impact statement, Brian Scott said he and his mother - who was not well enough to be in court - had travelled from Glasgow to the seaside resort in October 2018 for a "well-earned break".

The following day Ms Scott suffered a stroke in her room at the Imperial Hotel and was completely paralysed on the left side of her body.

He said she was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and he was told the first 24 hours would be crucial as to whether his mother would survive.

"We were devastated," he said, adding that they had felt assured she was being treated in a safe and caring environment.

"She was completely immobile and unable to get out of bed," he said.

"She relied on staff to assist her with personal care, food and the administration of prescribed medication.

"They failed my mum and all my family, it is a miracle that she survived."

Aileen Scott's son says the whistleblowing student nurse "most likely saved my mum's life"

Mr Scott said his mum was a "proud lady" and had a "big heart" and had "never been a nuisance to anyone".

"To this day my mum is fearful about going into hospital. Why? Because of the treatment she received by Catherine Hudson and others at Blackpool," he said.

"This will haunt us for the rest of our lives."

Prosecutors said a "culture of abuse" was revealed on the unit when police examined WhatsApp phone messages between the co-defendants and other members of staff.

Hudson wrote about one of her victims: "I sedated one of them to within an inch of her life lol. Bet she's flat for a week haha xxx."

In a message exchange about an elderly male patient, Hudson wrote: "I'm going to kill bed 5 xxx."

The next evening, Hudson messaged Wilmot: "If bed 5 starts he will b getting sedated to hell...

"I'll get u the abx [antibiotic] xxx."

The court heard Hudson was convicted of giving an unprescribed sedative, Zopiclone, to Aileen Scott

Giving evidence, both defendants denied all the allegations and claimed the private messages were "banter" and not supposed to be taken seriously.

They said the "gallows humour" was the venting of their frustrations at working in a chronically understaffed unit.

Hudson was also convicted of stealing Mebeverine, a medication intended for an end-of-life patient.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiring with other colleagues to steal other drugs, including zopiclone, and also a further offence of perverting the course of justice.

Wilmot was convicted of encouraging Hudson to ill-treat a patient and also pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal medication from the hospital.

Sentencing of Hudson, of Coriander Close, Blackpool, and former assistant practitioner Wilmot, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool, will take place on Thursday.

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