Ealing Nurse Awarded Half Million After Work Accident

Defective chair collapsed leaving 40 year old with disabilities

A former hospital nurse at St Bernard's in Southall who was left with chronic back pain after a chair collapsed under him at work has been given £500,000 in compensation.

Eric Nartey, 40, was approaching the end of a night shift at the hospital in March 2013 when he sat on a “defective” chair, which dropped and tipped him on to the floor.

The staff nurse developed chronic pain and cannot work and now relies on a wheeled frame to walk.

Hospital bosses had accused him of exaggerating his symptoms, but a civil trial was settled early after Mr Nartey attempted to rise from his seat, fell backwards and rolled down a short flight of steps as his legs gave way.

David Callow, for the West London Mental Health NHS Trust, said the organisation admitted liability for the injury and accepted Mr Nartey’s account of the accident.

“The chair had a defect which caused it to give way,” he said. “Mr Nartey fell to the floor. Liability is admitted. It is admitted that Mr Nartey likely suffered some loss as a result of the fall.”

Mr Nartey’s barrister, Nicholas Braslavsky QC, said he had been a hard-working man and only took a single day off from his former job as a postman after a car accident.

Judge Heather Baucher, overseeing the civil trial, was told the NHS had agreed a £500,000 payout to settle the compensation claim.

A spokesperson from West London NHS Trust said, “The safety of our staff is a critical issue for the Trust which is why all our staff undergo mandatory health and safety training, with the relevant policies in place.  We are reviewing the findings from Mr Nartey’s case and will incorporate any changes which need to be made.”

21st November 2019