Personal injuries: Worker wins pay-out for leg injuries
Source – BBC News, Tuesday, 7 December, 1999

A former health worker whose right leg was amputated below the knee after two accidents at a hospital has received £600,000 compensation.

The award comes at the end of a 13-year legal battle.

Alison Hockaday, from Durham, was an active sportswoman before the accidents, regularly swimming, jogging, playing badminton and representing her county at netball.

Now, at 34, she has to use a wheelchair and has an artificial limb fitted to her injured leg.

Record sum

Her compensation is believed to be a record for a personal injury at work.

Mrs Hockaday, who lives in the prime minister's constituency and is expecting a child next May, worked as an occupational therapist at Winterton Hospital in Stockton on Tees.

In 1986 she slipped on wet leaves on steps outside the hospital, injuring her right leg. She returned to work but in 1990 she slipped again, on a wet vinyl floor, fracturing her right ankle.

She has had several operations and carried on working, but two years ago her right leg was amputated below the knee and she was retired on health grounds.

Union backing

Mrs Hockaday's union, Unison, backed her case - and deputy general secretary Dave Prentis presented her with the compensation cheque at the union's London headquarters.

He said: "It is appalling that Alison has had to wait 13 years to get compensation.

"That wait must have made her pain and suffering worse. I hope the money will make her life more bearable, particularly when the baby is born.

"I also hope other employers will take care to make sure that their premises are safe."

Mrs Hockaday praised the union for helping her with the case and said there was no way she could have funded her legal action herself.

She said: "It is a lot of money and it has not really sunk in yet. But I would give it all back tomorrow if I could have my leg back, although it will help to make life easier."