Nurse with latex allergy wins £300,000 payout after hospital fails to provide different gloves

Tanya Dodd's career was cut short after she discovered that coming into contact with latex could send her into a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.

The 25-year-old was forced to quit her job, change her diet and replace everyday items such as hairbrushes, pens, mobile phones and shoes.

Yesterday, she won an out-of-court settlement against Scarborough General Hospital, which she claims should have warned her about the dangers of latex and provided her with latex-free gloves.

"I am devastated that I will not be able to continue my work as a nurse," Miss Dodd said. "I was in the middle of training when I developed the allergy.

"The dangers of latex were not mentioned during my training and I wasn't advised to minimise my exposure to it.

"The only type of glove available on the wards was latex-based - I was told that if I was caught using latex-free gloves without special authorisation then this was a punishable offence.

"I was also told to get myself registered as disabled, because of the danger of my going into anaphylactic shock.

"This is very distressing, as I am only 25. I don't want to be faced with life registered as a disabled person or on benefits. I only wanted a career."

Last night, Miss Dodd, who is engaged to a welder, added: "I was heartbroken not to be a nurse any more.

"I am pleased with the result, but I would rather not have the money and still be doing the job I loved.

"If hospitals made people more aware of the dangers of working with latex, and used other materials, they would not have to spend money on cases like this.

"With this allergy I have to be on my guard all the time. If I come into contact with latex, it could kill me."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, which helped secure the compensation, said: "Tanya Dodd had a promising career ahead of her as a nurse, but her life and career have been blighted by the negligence of her employers.

"No amount of money can adequately compensate Tanya for the damage to her health and the constant threat of serious illness hanging over her.

"Employers must realise that they must take the health and safety of their staff seriously. The dangers of developing latex allergy are well documented and the solution is simple - provide latex-free gloves. Scarborough General Hospital did not.

"Moreover, Tanya was threatened with disciplinary action if she was caught using the gloves."

Neither Unison nor Miss Todd, who worked at the hospital for three years before being made redundant four years ago, would confirm the amount of compensation, other than to say it was a "six-figure sum".

However, according to a source, she was awarded more than £300,000.

A spokesman for Scarborough General Hospital: "We are pleased this claim has been settled.

"We are making sure that we learn the necessary lessons from this and wish Tanya well for the future."

Two other nurses have previously been awarded thousands of pounds after developing an allergic reaction to latex.

In 2004, Alison Dugmore won £354,000 after proving her allergy put her life in danger.

And in 2000, Diane Chambers, then 48, was awarded £100,000 by a hospital after claiming she was left "psychologically traumatised" by her allergy.