The family of a schoolgirl who lay dead on her bedroom floor for nine hours have won their fight to change policy around the body removal of youngsters who die at home.
Lucy Grant, 17, died after suffering an epileptic seizure at her house in Johnstone on April 15, 2025. Following her death, mum Lynette Anderson told of the "traumatic" ordeal endured by the family when cops and ambulance staff argued over whether Lucy was an adult or a child and who was responsible for removing her body.
NHS protocol change
Now, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has agreed to change its protocol so 16 and 17-year-olds who die suddenly at home can be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children for care and support, rather than straight to the mortuary. Bereaved families will also be able to say goodbye to their children in a dedicated paediatric viewing space.
For Lynette, the changes have come at an enormous personal cost, but mean that another family may never have to experience what they went through. She said: "This is Lucy's legacy. Now I know that no other 16 or 17-year-old will be left on their bedroom floor for so long and that no other mother will have to hold their child's body and see what I saw that day."
Traumatic ordeal
Lucy was unresponsive at around 10am on the day she died and her family desperately attempted CPR before a first responder took over. An ambulance attended, but it became clear nothing could be done to save the teenager. The family say the nightmare continued as police and ambulance staff disagreed for hours.
Lynette described "collapsing in the garden on her knees", crying and screaming as emergency workers stood outside the house in their dispute, while Lucy's siblings watched on. She also recalled seeing fluid coming from her daughter's nose and mouth and being unable to clean her face. The ordeal only ended when a senior detective arrived and ordered a private ambulance to take Lucy away.
The 45-year-old said: "The horror of it will never leave me. We've all been left suffering from PTSD, including my children. We were left absolutely traumatised and will continue to deal with that pain."
Epilepsy care changes
The mum said her battle for the protocol change had been difficult, with meetings forcing her to repeatedly revisit the worst day of her life. She added: "It's been quite an ordeal going through all these meetings, having to go through that awful day again, it's taken its toll."
The changes also extend to Lucy's epilepsy care. Lynette said her daughter was left for months without a plan in place to manage her condition. NHSGGC has since created an acute epilepsy clinic for patients who attend A&E following an epilepsy-related episode, with the aim of seeing them within two to four weeks. A nurse has also been appointed for 12 months to support a rapid-access epilepsy service. The epilepsy team is working with paediatric colleagues to redesign its transition service.
"We've been told of the lack of resources and pressure all these services are under, but that is not my daughter's fault," Lynette said. "Before her death, Lucy was in distress, she desperately wanted help. She was failed and I can't let any more families face that either."
Further action sought
Lynette is also seeking changes to the way young people aged 16 and 17 are cared for when admitted to hospital and is seeking meetings with the Scottish Government. She is awaiting a decision from the Procurator Fiscal on whether a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into Lucy's death and has been considering legal action.
Lynette added: "It doesn't feel like 17 months since I last saw Lucy. Since then, I have just been in fight mode trying to ensure we are granted an inquiry following the failures in Lucy's care both before and after she passed. I just had to keep fighting for Lucy's sake. She's kept me going."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Any death of a child is treated with the upmost sensitivity, and a specialist officer is always appointed to investigate where appropriate and to support the family. Police Scotland continues to work with our partners to ensure our response to bereaved parents is trauma informed. Our sympathies remain with the family of the 17-year-old in this case."
Phil Chapman is Director of Operations for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). He said: "We requested information from Police Scotland regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a 17-year-old girl in Johnstone on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Following a detailed consideration of that information, we took the decision not to conduct an investigation in this instance. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and all of those who have been affected by this very tragic loss."
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson also said: "We would once again like to extend our deepest condolences to the family. Recognising the distress caused to the family, we have worked with partners at Police Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to implement meaningful changes to help avoid families having to go through a similar experience. We met with the family earlier this year and would like to thank them for taking the time to meet with us. While we recognise that nothing can take away their loss, we hope the information we have shared and the changes that have been implemented demonstrate our commitment to preventing another family from experiencing similar distress."
