Northumberland Care Trust pays out for worker’s stress

Oct 4 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

ASOCIAL worker who suffered a heart attack after becoming stressed at work has received £175,000 in compensation.

David Walker, 63, was employed as a team manager for Northumberland Care Trust’s Younger Persons Physical Disability Team (YPD) between 1995 and November 2004.

The YPD was set up to care for people of working age with physical disabilities but was under-staffed.

Mr Walker, of North Tyneside, regularly worked 12-hour days and most of the weekend but, even working those extended hours, he was unable to cope with the workload. Relentless pressure caused him severe stress and anxiety and he suffered a heart attack in November 2004.

Though he survived, Mr Walker remained seriously depressed and was not able to return to work. He took early retirement at the age of 60.

Having lost five years of earnings, he also suffered a reduction in his pension because of retiring early.

A member of the Transport and General Workers Union sector of his union Unite, he turned to the union and its solicitors for support.

After court proceedings started in February 2006, the Northumberland NHS Care Trust admitted it had been negligent in exposing Mr Walker to stressful working conditions.

However, it was not prepared to admit the heart attack and depression were caused by its negligence. The case was listed to be heard at Newcastle County Court on September 10, but shortly before that, the NHS Trust came forward with compensation of £175,000.

Mr Walker said: “I and my family feel that this is a just settlement.

“I’m very satisfied with the outcome and it’s a relief as much as anything. I can get on with my life now.

“Mentally, now I’m just coming out of it. It’s taken away three-and-a-half years of my life.”

Unite regional secretary Davey Hall said: “I’m extremely pleased for Mr Walker. Now that the lengthy case has eventually been resolved, it gives Mr Walker, and indeed his family, peace of mind.

“Had the case been advanced by a private firm of solicitors, it would have cost Mr Walker thousands of pounds in costs. However, being a member of Unite, he incurred no legal costs and he has justly received full compensation.”

A spokeswoman for Northumberland Care Trust said: “We’re pleased that an agreement has been reached over the settlement in this case. We hope that Mr Walker is satisfied with the outcome.”

Mentally, now I’m just coming out of it. It’s taken away three-and-a-half years of my life