NHS trust forced to pay out
Thursday 11 October 2012
Printable
EmailA NHS trust has settled out of court after being sued by a care worker left with permanent hearing damage when a hospital ceiling collapsed on his head.
David Kennedy, 48, from Reading was hit by plasterboard which had fallen from the ceiling while working as a senior support worker in Prospect Park Hospital.
Now Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust has admitted liability and settled the claim out of court and Mr Kennedy was awarded damages.
The ceiling had been highlighted to management as unsafe and a maintenance workers had created a small hole in it to let out water but the dangerous area was not cordoned off.
Mr Kennedy was knocked unconscious when a piece of plasterboard fell from the ceiling and he suffered a sprain to his right shoulder. He developed tinnitus and now suffers from hearing loss.
Unison regional secretary Phil Wood said: "Employers have a duty of care to their staff and there is no excuse for allowing a ceiling to become dangerous. This cannot be allowed to happen again."
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Stand by our firefighters
Fire Minister Brandon Lewis probably had a fair idea what Sir Ken Knight would deliver when he asked him to conduct an "independent" report into fire and rescue services in England.
Features
A timely reminder of the long fight ahead
As LGBT activists worldwide celebrate anti-homophobia day we are reminded of prevailing prejudice
Fighting child abuse in the community
Bradford has seen the launch of a new campaign to battle the sources of child sex exploitation - and combat far-right bids to make it a racial issue