Michael Morris by his newly-replaced door.
Man’s £780 bill after police knock down his door
Monday, May 7, 2012
8:00 AM
A SEVERELY ill man has been left with a bill for £780 after he awoke in the middle of the night to find police officers who had broken down his door standing over his bed.
Michael Morris suffers from a rare respiratory illness and, after being discharged from hospital earlier this year, had arranged to have daily telephone check-ups from nurses at 5pm.
But the day after he was discharged nurses called him unexpectedly at 11.50pm.
As he was asleep, he did not answer - and nursing staff became worried about his welfare. Two nurses and two police officers then went to his home in Cresswell Close in Worle. They knocked down the door shortly after midnight on February 19 to gain entry, surprising the 53-year-old in his bed.
He said: “I just woke up to find two police officers and two nurses hovering over me. I was very surprised to say the least.
“I have no idea why they called. It was almost midnight, I had only come out of hospital the day before and was absolutely knackered and so, of course, I wouldn’t hear the phone at that time.”
And with Mr Morris unable to work due to the severity of his illness, he had to take out a loan to help him pay for the repair work.
He added: “It has just left me really cross. The worst thing about this disease is that I can’t work, so it has made it really hard to pay for it.”
Mr Morris, who had been treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Weston General Hospital for a week before the incident, said replacing the door had cost him £780.
He added: “The stress and anxiety this has caused me has really been the worst possible thing for my health.”
Weston Town Council representative Tony Probert, who has been trying to get compensation for Mr Morris, said: “Common-sense should have prevailed at the time and in no way is Mr Morris responsible for the actions taken by the nurses and the police.”
A spokesman for NHS North Somerset said the ward where Mr Morris had been treated had insisted he needed to be checked on.
He said: “In these sort of circumstances, where the primary aim of all healthcare professionals is the health and welfare of the patient, unfortunately we cannot be held responsible for the repair costs.”
A police spokesman said: “If occupants have financial hardship and cannot recover their costs any other way they can contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary which will consider their situation and whether any additional help can be offered to assist in the repair.”
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14 comments
Just imagine the outrage if the police did nothing and the chap was really poorly or worse inside.
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T-Bone
Thursday, May 10, 2012
@Charlie. Thanks for the clarification. What does FTP stand for?
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MarkBradshaw
Thursday, May 10, 2012
@Keith - the charge wouldn't have been from the police but whoever the poor chap got to fix his door.
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MarkBradshaw
Thursday, May 10, 2012
@Charlie. Thanks. He hasn't been fined has he? What does FTP stand for? And why would you want nurses fired?
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MarkBradshaw
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
At that price I'm expecting he got a whole new door! Does seem like an overreaction from plod though, but they paid a lot for their battering rams and do enjoy the chance for some practice.
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weston41
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Why was he called at almost midnight? Also why was the bell not rung or the door knocked long and loud ,before being domolished? Odd case isn't it?
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Justin Time
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Normally in this situation the police would provide a reference number which can be presented to the resident's (or resident's landlord's) insurers to cover the cost of repairs. The only thing that would void it would be forced entry due to criminal activity which obviously isn't the case here.
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jax
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@ MarkBradshaw - I meant that fact that he got fined for it is disgusting
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CharlieChalk
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@ MarkBradshaw - I meant that fact that he got fined for it is disgusting
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CharlieChalk
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@ MarkBradshaw - I meant that fact that he got fined for it is disgusting
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CharlieChalk
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Setting aside the key issue of charging for a moment BUT £780 for a two person call out that probably laated less than an hour. Rogue traders would have a field day it brings a whole new meaning to AvSom!!
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keith
Monday, May 7, 2012
I presume that the Police would have knocked (loudly) on his door before breaking it open. I'm sure they didn't break in without making every effort to establish contact first.
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2Phat
Monday, May 7, 2012
Absolutely, how dare the police respond to a request from medical professionals that, in other circumstances, might have saved the man's life...
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MarkBradshaw
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wow, disgusting. What on earth were they doing calling him at midnight? Absolute idiots, should be fired. FTP
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CharlieChalk
Monday, May 7, 2012