'I sedated one of them to within an inch of her life lol': Evil nurse who drugged patients for an easy shift is JAILED

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A nurse who drugged patients at a Blackpool hospital for an “easy shift” has been locked up for more than seven years. Catherine Hudson, 54, illegally sedated two patients at a stroke ward at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and conspired with junior colleague Charlotte Wilmot, 48, to sedate a third.

Police were alerted to their crimes by hospital chiefs in November 2018 after a student nurse, who was on a work placement, said Hudson had suggested giving an elderly patient an unprescribed sleeping pill, a trial at Preston Crown Court. READ MORE: 'What the Blackpool Victoria nurse did to my mum will haunt us for the rest of our lives' Read more national news from the Manchester Evening News here. The whistleblower 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 was said to be “shocked” when Hudson then took a strip of zopiclone - a Class C controlled drug - from her tunic pocket and administered the sedative.

The trial heard that the drug was potentially life-threatening if given inappropriately to acutely unwell patients. Prosecutors said a “culture of abuse” was revealed on the unit when police examined WhatsApp phone messages between the co-defendants and other members of staff, Lancashire Live reports.

Hudson wrote about one of her victims: “I sedated one of them to within an inch of her life lol. Bet she’s flat for a week haha xxx. ”I’m going to kill bed 5 xxx.” Wilmot replied: “Pmsl (p**sing myself laughing) well tonight sedate him to high heaven lol xxx.” Hudson said: “Already in my head to give him double!!” Giving evidence, both defendants denied all the allegations and