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WhatsApp messages show guilty Blackpool healthcare workers bragging about sedating patients

Prosecutors said police examined WhatsApp phone messages between the co-defendants and other members of staff which revealed a "culture of abuse".

WhatsApp messages sent between Catherine Hudson and Charlotte Wilmot
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A nurse and healthcare worker who have been found guilty of unlawfully drugging patients sent WhatsApp messages to each other in which they bragged about sedating those in their care.

Catherine Hudson, 54, and Charlotte Wilmot, 48, ill-treated those in their care on a stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire between February 2017 and November 2018, Preston Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors said police examined WhatsApp phone messages between the co-defendants and other members of staff which revealed a "culture of abuse".

'I'm going to kill bed 5 xxx'

WhatsApp messages sent between Catherine Hudson and Charlotte Wilmot

Hudson was found guilty of drugging two patients and was convicted of conspiring with her junior colleague, Wilmot, to administer a sedative to a third patient.

Hudson was cleared of ill-treating two other patients.

'Give her the best sleep she ever had'

WhatsApp messages sent between Catherine Hudson and Charlotte Wilmot

Giving evidence, both defendants denied all allegations and claimed the private messages were "banter".

'I sedated one to within an inch of her life'

WhatsApp messages sent between Catherine Hudson and Charlotte Wilmot

They said the messages were not supposed to be taken seriously, claiming the "gallows humour" was the venting of their frustrations at working in a chronically understaffed unit.

'Sedated all the troublemakers'

WhatsApp messages sent by Catherine Hudson

Nurse and healthcare workers stole drugs

Hudson was also convicted of stealing Mebeverine, a medication intended for an end-of-life patient.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiring with other colleagues to steal other drugs including Zopilcone and also a further offence of perverting the course of justice.

Wilmot had also pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal medication from the hospital.

The pair pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal drugs. Pic: Lancashire Police
Image: The pair pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal drugs. Pic: Lancashire Police

The women will be sentenced on 13 and 14 December. Hudson was remanded into custody, while Wilmot is set to be granted bail.