Settlement Approved In Leeds Colin Norris Case
30/12/2009
Clinical Negligence solicitors at Irwin Mitchell have successfully secured a five-figure settlement for the family of an 80-year-old woman who was killed by an overdose of insulin and diamorphine administered by nurse Colin Norris.
Norris was convicted of four counts of murder and one further charge of attempted murder and jailed for 30 years after administering deadly overdoes to four patients during his time at Leeds General Infirmary.
One of his victims, Doris Ludlam, was killed by an overdose administered by Norris in June 2002 after being admitted to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment relating to a heart condition and a broken hip.
Following Norris’s conviction, the family of Mrs Ludlam mounted a clinical negligence claim against the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and instructed Linda Smith, a clinical negligence specialist at the Leeds office of leading law firm Irwin Mitchell, to represent them.
The hearing took place at Leeds County Court on 30 December where the family were awarded a five-figure sum for bereavement, damages and loss of pension. The settlement also provided support for Mrs Ludlam’s widow.
Following the settlement, Linda Smith was critical of the flaws in Leeds General Infirmary’s processes that enabled Norris to get hold of the insulin he used to kill his victims and said the civil claim was based around these issues, which are also the subject of a major inquiry by Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority.
She said: “Patient safety should be the number one concern of the NHS and we hope that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust learns lessons from the four deaths of elderly ladies whose families feel very let down by the doctors and nurses who failed to protect and look after their loved ones.
“The hospital’s system for drug control failed and allowed a rogue nurse to commit a terrible crime.
“Norris should not have been able to get hold of the insulin that he used to commit his crimes in the first place. There were clearly shortcomings in the hospital’s checks and systems – yet it took four murders and an attempted murder for these flaws to be revealed.”
Elizabeth Hodgson, one of Doris Ludlam’s daughters said: “We trusted the hospital to look after and care for our mum, knowing she was frail. It is shocking to think we are not safe in hospital – you trust doctors and nurses and it is terrifying think about what happened to our mum in our local hospital.
“We were robbed of our mother and no amount of money can replace her. We are relieved that the case is now settled so we can continue to try and rebuild our lives and move on from this horrific chapter.”
Colin Norris lost an appeal on his convictions on Monday 21st December.
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