A mother whose daughter died at University College London Hospital (UCLH) has questioned her child’s treatment as she demonstrated opposite striking consultants.
Lady Dorit Young of Dartington stood outside UCLH on Thursday with two placards to bring attention to the death of her daughter Gaia Young.
Gaia, whose father was the late Labour peer Michael Young, died at the hospital aged 25 in July 2021 after being admitted for a sudden headache and vomiting.
Two years on, Lady Young says she still does not understand the cause of her daughter’s death and told the PA news agency that the inquest was “inconclusive”.
According to reports, an inquest in St Pancras returned a narrative conclusion that she died due to swelling of the brain, but could not identify the cause.
Lady Young claimed the ward Ms Young was treated on was 50% understaffed the weekend she died and said that she was “ambivalent” towards the consultants’ strikes due to this.
Lady Young set up her own demonstration near the main entrance and said none of the doctors on the picket line had approached her to talk.
“None,” she said.
“Just even asking ‘why are you here? What are you doing? I’ve heard about the Gaia Young case, I’m so sorry.’ Nothing.”
On the consultants’ strikes, she added: “Yes, they are underpaid.
“Yes, it’s an extraordinarily responsible job, but at the same time, how can it be that none of these consultants is talking to us or taking any interest in the story?
“I think Gaia’s story must not rest until we have the truth.
“If you don’t find out why someone dies, how can you learn? Learning should be their daily bread.”
Dozens of consultants are currently taking part in a 48-hour strike from 7am on Thursday until 7am on Saturday.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has said doctors have seen real-term take-home pay fall by more than a third over the last 14 years.
A UCLH spokesperson said: “We understand this continues to be an extremely difficult time for Gaia’s mother and loved ones, and offer our deepest sympathies.
“While the coroner could not say that different care could have prevented Gaia’s death, we do acknowledge some things could have been done better.
“Last year, we agreed to commission a range of independent experts, including a neurologist, to explore further the circumstances surrounding Gaia’s death. We are awaiting Gaia’s mother’s agreement on the details of the external reviews so that we can proceed.
“We have already developed new clinical guidance and training following our internal investigation and we are committed to understanding what further lessons can be learned.”
