Student, 26, dies of meningitis after four failed phone consultations

2023-01-15

Parents of law student, 26, who died of meningitis after four remote doctor appointments in three weeks say they hope this week’s inquest will provide answers and raise awareness of need to be seen face-to-face

Musician David Nash, 26, had four phone consultations with a Leeds GP practice
No one spotted he had mastoiditis in his ear, which later led to meningitis
He then had five ‘shambolic’ calls with the NHS 111 system after he deteriorated
Mr Nash, a law student, died on November 4 2020 at Leeds General Infirmary

The parents of a law student who died of meningitis after a series of remote doctor appointments over three weeks say they hope an inquest will raise awareness of the need for GP practices to see patients face to face.

Musician David Nash, 26, had four remote consultations with a Leeds GP practice over a 19-day period.

But none of the clinicians spotted that he had mastoiditis in his ear – causing a brain abscess which sparked meningitis, his family said.

Mr Nash’s parents, Andrew and Anne Nash, of Nantwich, Cheshire, have campaigned to find out whether the mastoiditis would have been identified and easily treated with antibiotics had their son had a face-to-face examination at the Burley Park Medical Centre on October 14, 2020, or at subsequent appointments.

David Nash, 26, pictured, died of meningitis after he had four phone consultations with a Leeds GP practice and no one detected the problem

The heartbroken parents described how Mr Nash later had five ‘shambolic’ calls with the NHS 111 system – after he deteriorated dramatically – before being taken to St James’s Hospital in Leeds by ambulance.

They said their son was left alone at the emergency department despite being in a confused and serious state, and fell, causing an injury to his head.

Mr Nash died on November 4, 2020 after efforts were made to save him by neurosurgeons at Leeds General Infirmary.

An inquest into Mr Nash’s death, starting on Monday in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is due to examine the contacts he had with the GP practice, as well his contacts with the NHS 111 service and his treatment in hospital.

Parents Andrew and Anne Nash suspect that the mastoiditis could have been spotted and treated with antibiotics if their son had a face-to-face examination at his first appointment last year

Mr Nash died on November 4 2020 at Leeds General Infirmary, pictured, after he deteriorated dramatically

Family solicitor Iain Oliver, partner at Ison Harrison, said: ‘David’s family would like the inquest into his tragic death to raise awareness of various issues, including the need for GP practices to see patients face to face to enable proper assessment of conditions to be made that will be missed during a telephone consultation.

‘They would also like to highlight the need for continuity of care within GP practices, to ensure that the patient is considered holistically, particularly where there are repeated consultations for a developing condition that may be identified by such an approach.

‘Additionally, the family wishes to highlight the limitations of the NHS 111 algorithms.’

Mr Nash’s father described him as ‘caring, charismatic and funny, managing to find humour in almost everything, however mundane’

Mr Nash’s family have described how he was just starting the second year of a law degree at Leeds University when he died and how he was passionate about working for social justice and human rights.

He went to university after a number of years as a drummer in Leeds’s music scene, touring Europe with his band, Weirds, and recording an album.

His father, an airline pilot, described him as ‘caring, charismatic and funny, managing to find humour in almost everything, however mundane’.

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