Hull father calls on Health Secretary to address systemic healthcare failures
John Story is set to meet with the health secretary
The dad of a two-year-old girl from Hull, who died after being mis-diagnosed with acute tonsilitis, says he wants the Health Secretary to take real action, rather than simply offering condolences.
Lyla Story actually had type 1 diabetes - which can be fatal for children - and her family are leading a campaign for 'Lylas Law' - for routine testing for those showing symptoms.
John Story, Lyla’s dad, is amongst those advocating for systemic changes .
He says;
"My daughter, Lyla, didn't die because of a single mistake. She died because the system that's meant to safeguard her was never designed to recognise the early signs of type one diabetes in children.
"And that same systemic failure is putting families at risk. The same symptoms were missed. The same assumptions made, the same lack of checks that need to become mandatory. These are not just isolated incidents. They are a national systemic pattern and patterns like this demand action, not just condolences."
The Health Secretary has pledging to meet with Lyla's family to listen to their concerns and story, after a request from their local MP, Diana Johnson.
Wes Streeting said;
"This is such an unbelievably and unimaginably awful case. I cannot imagine what Lyla's parents are going through. And I am looking forward to meeting Lyla's family.
"I am going to consider very carefully their experience and their calls for action, which have also been raised with me by Diana Johnson, their local MP. So we will have that meeting.
"I'll listen to them and look at what more we can do to make sure that other families aren't going through and won't go through the unimaginable grief and loss that Lyla's poor family is going through."
A debate in parliament on Lyla's Law will take place next month