The pair drugged two patients for an “easy life” during work shifts at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
A registered nurse and assistant practitioner have been jailed for drugging patients to “keep them quiet and compliant”.
Registered nurse Catherine Hudson has been jailed for seven years while assistant practitioner Charlotte Wilmot was sentenced for just three years.
The pair drugged two patients for an “easy life” during work shifts at Blackpool Victoria Hospital between April 2017 and November 2018.
They even joked about killing a patient via text message and administered drugs such as Zopiclone to patients without a clinical need.
Ms Hudson’s partner, former nurse Marek Grabienowski, was also jailed for 14 months for conspiracy to steal drugs from his employer, and perverting the course of justice.
Matthew Pover and Victoria Holehouse also received sentences.
A betrayal of trust.
During sentencing, Judge Robert Altham said: “You were in a position of trust and responsibility. You offended against vulnerable people in your care over a significant period.
“You were the lead offender. You sought to seek assistance from the student you were supervising. There was in each case a risk of harm. We have heard of the risk of sedatives to stroke patients. The relatives of all those patients will always be distressed at the betrayal of trust.
“There will be a loss of public confidence in the NHS.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police, said: “Hudson and Wilmot treated the patients without care or compassion, laughing when they came to harm and drugging them to keep them quiet so that they could have an easy shift.
“The risks associated with these callous acts were obvious – inappropriately sedating elderly stroke patients could lead to added health complications and even death. They were both fully aware of the risks, which makes their behaviour even harder to comprehend.”
“Everyone should be safe in hospital, should receive the care they need and be treated with dignity and respect.”
