Physiotherapist who fell on icy hospital steps awarded €1m

The Health Service Executive has been ordered to pay just over €1 million in damages to a physiotherapist who slipped on icy steps outside a Dublin community hospital.

Nilofar Ikram (36), Dooradoyle, Limerick, has been unable to work since her accident four years ago and is unlikely to return to her profession again. She was awarded the damages following a six-day hearing at the High Court in Limerick.

The judgment includes a €675,000 payment for loss of future earnings after the court heard it was unlikely she would be able work again, due her injuries.

Ms Ikram, who specialised in paediatric care at Baggot Street Community Hospital in Dublin, has been in chronic pain since she fell on icy steps outside the hospital on January 7th, 2010, injuring her lower back.

An Irish citizen, originally from India, Ms Ikram was returning to work after the Christmas holidays when the accident occurred.The court heard that due to prevailing weather conditions, the hospital steps were covered in ice and snow.

Mr Justice David Keane concluded that the defendant had failed in its duty of care which directly caused Ms Ikram’s accident and subsequent losses.