Blood clot from long hours at desk

A civil servant who suffered a life-threatening blood clot from long hours sitting at her desk has received a substantial sum in compensation.

Angela Lamberton, a member of PCS union, worked for HM Revenue and Customs. She developed the clot behind her knee after her working routine was changed so she was effectively tied to her desk. Targets of fixed amounts of work were set and routines were changed so staff no longer had to leave their desk to complete their job.

Lamberton had suffered a previous blood clot and although it was successfully treated and she no longer had to take medication she was told by doctors to take breaks from her desk every 15 minutes. The old work routine meant she was naturally taking those breaks to collect work from the printer.