Law student who died after GP phone consultations ‘should’ve been seen in person’

He developed a brain abscess which led to his death.

A law student who died following a series of remote consultations with doctors and nurses should have had an urgent face-to-face appointment after his final contact, an inquest was told yesterday.

David Nash, 26, had four phone consultations with a Leeds GP practice over a 19-day period in autumn 2020, the inquest in Wakefield, West Yorkshire was told.

The court heard his condition deteriorated dramatically after the final consultation and he was taken to hospital by ambulance after several NHS 111 calls but died two days later.

It was later found that he had developed mastoiditis in his ear, causing an abscess on his brain which led to his death.

In a statement, GP expert Alastair Bint did not criticise the remote nature of the first three consultations.

However, Dr Bint concluded that the fourth, with advanced nurse practitioner Lynne White on November 2, should have a generated a face-to-face appointment which is likely to have led to a hospital admission.

He said Mr Nash’s fever, neck stiffness and night-time headaches were ‘red flags’ and the nurse’s diagnosis of a flu-like virus was ‘not safe’. He also said it was for a neurosurgical expert to comment on whether the final outcome would have been different if Mr Nash had been seen face-to-face.

Dr Bint’s report stressed that the NHS was dealing with an unprecedented situation at the time – the Covid pandemic.

In her evidence, nurse Lynne White said she accepted that, when she told Mr Nash on November 2 ‘you’re sounding like you’re feeling a bit sorry for yourself’, it appeared now as if she was being dismissive. But she insisted she was simply reflecting that he seemed unwell.

The inquest continues.

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