An NHS nurse and a care assistant friend have today been found guilty of drugging patients on a hospital stroke unit for their 'own amusement' and an 'easy life'.
Catherine Hudson, who is 54 years and Charlotte Wilmot, who is 48 years are also said to have targeted patients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital if they dislike them or their relatives.
The friends were today warned that they face jail for their crimes.
Whatsapp messages between Hudson and Wilmot were uncovered after a probe was launched into alleged misconduct.In one text message to a colleague, Hudson wrote:' I sedated one of them to within an Inch of her life lol.
In others,jurors were told Hudson wrote that she was going to kill bed 5 and planned to give one patient the best sleep she ever had. 'What a lovely day I have had in blue bay today', Hudson wrote in a message read to the jury, adding: 'Sedated all the troublemakers lol xxx'.
In May 2016,in response to Hudson suggesting the sedation of a patient, Wilmot replies:'Ha ha yeah sedation we love it'.
Whatsapp messages between Hudson and Wilmot were uncovered after a probe was launched into alleged misconduct. In one text message to a colleague, Hudson wrote: 'I sedated one of them to within an Inch of her life lol. Bet she's flat for a week haha xxx'.
In others,jurors were told wrote that she was going to 'kill bed 5' and planned to give one patient 'the best sleep ever had'. 'What a lovely day I have had in blue bay today', Hudson wrote in a message read to the jury, adding: ' Sedated all the troublemakers lol xxx'.
In May 2016, in response to Hudson suggesting the sedation of a patient, Wilmot replied: 'Ha ha yeah sedation we love it'.
A student nurse on a work placement told authorities that she saw Hudson give unprescribed sleeping pill Zopiclone to a patient in November 2018, Preston Crown Court heard.
The student nurse was further troubled when Hudson commented:'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'.
She bravely gave evidence against them.
Today Catherine Hudson,who is 54 was convicted of drugging two patients for an ' easy life' during work shift between February 2017 and November 2018. Hudson was cleared of ill treating two other patients.
Jurors at Preston Crown Court also convicted her of conspiring with a junior colleague, Charlotte Wilmot,48, to administer a sedative to a third patient.
Prosecutors said messages between Hudson,an experienced Band 5 registered nurse, and Wilmot a Band 4 assistance practitioner, revealed a ' culture of abuse'with patients drugged for their 'own amusement'.
Zopiclone was potentially life threatening if given inappropriately to acutely unwell patients, the court heard.
