David Nash, a 26-year-old law student and musician, died after a series of telephone consultations with a Leeds GP practice failed to diagnose a serious ear infection. An inquest into his death has begun, with his family arguing that face-to-face examinations could have saved his life.
Nash, from Nantwich, Cheshire, had four phone calls with Burley Park Medical Centre over 19 days starting on 14 October 2020. None of the clinicians identified that he had developed mastoiditis, which led to a brain abscess and meningitis. His parents, Andrew and Anne Nash, believe that an in-person examination at his first appointment would have detected the condition and allowed for antibiotic treatment.
After his condition worsened, Nash had five further consultations with the NHS 111 service, which his family described as 'shambolic'. He was eventually taken to St James's Hospital in Leeds by ambulance, but was left alone in the emergency department despite being confused and seriously ill. He fell and sustained a head injury before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, where he died on 4 November 2020.
The inquest at Wakefield will examine Nash's contacts with the GP practice, NHS 111, and the hospital. Family solicitor Iain Oliver stated that the family hopes to raise awareness about the need for face-to-face GP appointments and continuity of care, as well as the limitations of NHS 111 algorithms.
David Nash was in his second year of a law degree at Leeds University, having previously worked as a drummer and toured Europe with his band Weirds. His father described him as 'caring, charismatic and funny'.
