A former nurse today won more than £400,000 damages for back injuries she blamed on "appalling" shortages of staff and equipment at the hospital where she worked.

Former Sister Angela Knott suffered a prolapsed disc which has left her unable to have children, after working on The Beckton Ward at Newham General Hospital, in East London for three years, looking after HIV, stroke and cancer patients.

She retired in March 1999 after her injury.

Mrs Knott, 36, now of Easter Wynd, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, sued Newham Healthcare NHS Trust, claiming negligent staff and equipment shortages put unacceptable strain on her back.

Mr Justice Simon today ruled that the amount of lifting she was doing did cause her injury and awarded damages estimated by Mrs Knott's Lawyers at £420,000.

Mr Justice Simon concluded in his judgement:

"The hospital did not operate an appropriate system for lifting patients in the Beckton Ward.

Arrangements for lifting were inadequate properly to protect their staff and patients.

"No real steps were taken to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level practicable."

Harold Immanuel, Mrs Knott's Solicitor, said afterwards: "Today's decision is ground breaking for all nurses and patients in the NHS.

"As with Sister Knott, most nurse's back injuries are caused by regular lifting of heavy patients day in day out.

"Sister Knott's career has been ruined because carers have not been cared for.

"Newham General Hospital has spent the whole trial, and the last four and a half years denying the undeniable, and defending the indefensible.

"The court's decision today will hopefully mean the end of this hidden scandal."

The parties will agree the exact damages figure later today.