Family of student David Nash who died after remote GP appointments look for answers at inquest

David Nash was a talented musician and had played on the Leeds music scene and toured Europe with his band Weirds.

The parents of a law student from Cheshire who died after a series of remote consultations with doctors and nurses say they hope an inquest will raise awareness of the need for GP practices to see patients face to face.

The inquest into the death of law student David Nash is due to begin on Monday 16th January in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The 26-year old was a talented musician and a law student at Leeds University.

Mr Nash had four phone consultations with a GP practice in the city over a 19-day period, but none of the medics spotted that he had developed mastoiditis in his ear, which caused a brain abscess, sparking meningitis, his family have said.

His parents, Andrew and Anne Nash, from Nantwich, have campaigned to find out whether the mastoiditis would have been identified and easily treated with antibiotics if their son had undergone a face-to-face examination at his first appointment at the Burley Park Medical Centre on October 14, 2020, or during the subsequent phone consultations.

David Nash's parents, Andrew and Anne Nash

They have 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.

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

David died on November 4 2020, despite efforts to save him by neurosurgeons at Leeds General Infirmary.

The inquest is due to examine the contacts he had with the GP practice, as well his contacts with the NHS 111 service and his treatment at hospital.

David Nash was in the second year of a law degree at Leeds University.

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."

David's family have described how 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.