Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid was left feeling 'sick' during a distressing interview on the ITV programme. The 55-year-old broadcaster shared her reaction to devastating news concerning a university student who died in agonising pain after medical staff made her feel like a 'time-waster'.
Heartbreaking story of Libby Instone
Libby Instone, 20, from Billingham, Teesside, had been vomiting for several days before she collapsed and died in August 2023. She had attended an urgent care centre three times within 24 hours but was incorrectly diagnosed with gastroenteritis and repeatedly discharged. The 20-year-old died at home in her mother's arms, and an inquest at Teesside Coroner's Court determined that neglect contributed to her death, which resulted from an infarction of her small intestine.
GMB interview with boyfriend Theo Corbett
On Monday's edition of GMB, Susanna and co-presenter Ed Balls spoke with Libby's boyfriend Theo Corbett, who had been with her the day before her death. Susanna said: 'What is completely shocking about this story is that she was seen repeatedly... I think about five times, she had gone into urgent care at a hospital. Neglect contributed to her death. The coroner said there has been missed opportunities to investigate and provide a lifesaving treatment. And her own mother said her daughter was made to feel like a time waster and said staff were watching a women's World Cup penalty shootout while the family were trying to get help.'
Visibly emotional, Theo explained: 'I was there for the final three and a half hours before Libby was in hospital before she was discharged and she wasn't examined, she wasn't attended to. She was due further pain medication, which she asked for and didn't receive. I sat by the bed with her whilst all of this was going on until it got to the point where we were told, "Yeah, you're discharged. You can go home."'
Susanna's strong reaction
Susanna argued that Libby's treatment was 'disgusting', stating: 'The fact that it seems that the calls for pain relief were not answered and that Libby and her family were treated as "time wasters". I mean, that makes you feel sick because everybody understands A&E is under pressure but to be treated as a "time waster" when in fact you are dying is disgusting.'
In a deeply moving moment, Theo added: 'I feel like we were trying to raise concerns that we had and tried to press as much as we could and how worried we were about Libby's health but no matter how much we pushed, no matter how much we pressed, it just felt like we couldn't get anywhere.'
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
