Hudson Hewitt, two, was found to have a twisted bowel and died in hospital
The parents of a toddler who died after his symptoms were diagnosed over the phone as a stomach bug will meet with a health minister, the Prime Minister has confirmed. When Hudson Hewitt, two, fell ill with sickness in January this year his mum Shannon rang 111 for help.
A doctor diagnosed the youngster, from Ferryhill, County Durham, as having gastroenteritis over the phone. However his condition quickly worsened and he was rushed to hospital where he died.
Hudson was found to have had a twisted bowel. Following his death, Shannon and his dad Tyler began a campaign calling for all under-fives to be seen in person when parents ring 111 rather an an over-the-phone diagnosis.
On Wednesday, their MP Alan Strickland asked the Prime Minister if they could have a meeting with a health minister to discuss their campaign. Sir Keir Starmer told him that he would make sure that happened.
Mr Strickland, who is Labour MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, told Prime Minister’s Questions: “I’m speaking on behalf of my constituents Shannon and Tyler, who lost their two-year-old son Hudson earlier this year.
“Worried about their son, and calling 111, they were told he had Gastroenteritis. In fact Hudson had a twisted bowel and a few days later, after being rushed to hospital, tragically died.
“Shannon and Tyler are full of praise for the NHS medical staff who worked so hard to save their son’s life. They just wish they had been offered an in person appointment sooner which might have given a more accurate diagnosis.
“They want Hudson’s legacy to be better access to face to face NHS appointments for children under five, so other families don’t face this tragic situation and their online petition on this matter has gained over 80,000 signatures.
“Will the Prime Minister join me in sending the best wishes of this house to Hudson’s family and will he ensure they meet a health minister to discuss their courageous campaign?”
The PM, who has been in number 10 since July last year, responded by saying: “Can I thank you for raising this tragic case and I’m sure I speak for the whole house in saying we send our sympathies and thoughts to Hudson’s parents Shannon and Tyler and I’ll make sure that they get the meeting that he’s asking for.”
He then told the House of Commons: “This is exactly why we’re working to improve access to face to face appointments for those who want one and to enable that we’ve delivered the largest cash uplift for GPs in a decade – put over 2,500 GPs into general practice and we’re upgrading 1,000 surgeries to deliver eight million more appointments.”
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